TNAG-0543-FCO40-638-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 79

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(D) NO DOUBT HE WILL AVOID A SITUATION OF COUNTER-BRIEFING. THE

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO DEFEND THE AGREEMENT THAT IS EVENTUALLY REACHED, AND WILL HAVE TO DO SO ON THE GROUNDS THAT

THE AGREEMENT IS RIGHT FOR HONG KONG. IT WOULD NOT BE SOUND PUBLIC RELATIONS HERE, OR ACCEPTABLE FOR THE GOVERNMENTS CREDIBILITY TO PLEAD THAT IT WAS MERELY THE BEST THAT COULD BE

RUNG OUT OF A HARD-HEARTED H M G. THE LATTER TYPE OF ARGUMENT IS SOMETIMES ACCEPTABLE IN A COMMERCIAL SITUATION BUT WOULD

NOT IN A SECURITY MATTER. THIS GOVERNMENT THEREFORE HAS AN INTEREST IN KEEPING THE TEMPERATURE DOWN DURING THE NEGOTIATIONS

AND AVOIDING EITHER A SUGGESTION OF CONFRONTATION OR THAT H M G

IS BEING UNREASONABLE. THEREFORE I HOPE THAT OUR PRESS ARRANGEMENTS WILL AT LEAST BE CO-ORDINATED TO A COMMON END, AND THAT WE ESCHEW BRIEFING ON H M G VERSUS HONG KONG LINES. IN THIS CONNECTION I READ WITH SOME ALARM AN A P REPORT FROM

LONDON IN SOMEWHAT EMOTIVE TERMS.

MACLEHOSE

/SENT TO D C C/

FILES

•

HKLOD (3)

DEFENCE D

SWPD

GIPD

NEWS D

PS

PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

SIR D WATSON

MR THOMSON

MR MALE

COPIES TO:

MR WARD DS 6 MOD

MR HANSFORD

MR BRYARS

TREASURY

CABINET OFFICE

MR AGGLETON PSA DOE

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