GR 100A
PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
FM FCO 971810Z
SECRET
SECRET
(299)
RECOVED IN
GEGERY NO. 51
MY
- 8 OCT1975
(NEKID/)
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG TEL NO 770 OF 7 OCTOBER 1975
YOUR TEL NO 959: DEFENCE COSTS
290
ALF.
300
1. WE SEE NO OBJECTION HERE TO THE TIMING OF YOUR STATEMENT TO
EXCO BUT FAVOUR A MORE DIRECT PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT AS
FOLLOWS:-
QUOTE
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE, MR RODGERS, WILL BE
ARRIVING IN HONG KONG ON 27 OCTOBER FOR A SHORT VISIT IN
THE COURSE OF WHICH HE WILL HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ON THE TERMS OF A NEW DEFENCE COSTS
AGREEMENT TO SUCCEED THAT WHICH EXPIRES AT THE END OF
MARCH 1976
UNQUOTE
UNLESS YOU SEE ANY OBJECTION WE SUGGEST MAKING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
SIMULTANEOUSLY IN LONDON AND HONG KONG ON 15 OCTOBER
2. ON THE REFERENCE TO DEFENCE COSTS IN YOUR LEGCO ADDRESS
WE WOULD FAVOUR DELETING THE WORD QUOTE CORRECT UNQUOTE
IN THE SECOND SENTENCE.
3. YOUR PARA 19. WE AGREE.
CALLAGHAN
FILES
HKIOD (3)
DEFENCE
SNPD
PS
PS/LORD GORONWY- ROBERTS
SIR D WATSCH
MR THOMSON
MR MALE
SECRET
COPIES
TO
MR WARD IS 6 MR HANSFORD
MCD
TREASURY
MR BRYARS
CABINET OFFICE
MR AGGLETON PSA/DOE
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