TNAG-0544-FCO40-639-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 177

Flag H

SECRET

7.

Yesterday evening, the MOD were faced with the question of whether they should take account of the Governor's telegrams in answering Mr Rodgers's message of the previous evening. In discussion, we came to the conclusion that it would be best to regard the Governor's reports as ones to Mr Rodgers himself the

text in Hong Kong telegram no. 1090 was, in fact, a minute to Mr Rodgers and let him decide whether he needed to refer back for further instructions. The MOD sent a telegram in this sense.

8.

The Governor has stressed the insistence of Unofficials

that there should be no public suggestion of an agreement being in sight. From my understanding of the situation, there would indeed appear to be quite a long way to go, not least on the question of the release of MOD lands and the length of the agreement (as you will see from their telegram, the MOD want a five year agreement only). Unless the situation has changed considerably today and we have received no fresh reports from Hong Kong as of 1500 hours it seems unlikely that the negotiations will have been completed before Mr Rodgers is due to leave for Diego Garcia tomorrow afternoon, 1 November.

w

D. F. Millen

D F Milton

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.

31 October 1975

cc

Mr Sykes

Mr Cormack, Defence Dept.

This negchation is moving fast and by Manday

there will be new elements.

Neva Heless

I Theat

Las Gaaway. Robes

world had

this

very

dear Mendon

well worth reading.

Ранее

31/2

I was wit able to get this to hord Gravy Roberts before the

We should let Aum knew the state of play

week end.

a

Rady. When Walk

SECRET

31/10

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