SECRET
5. THE FOREGOING PROCEDURE IS COMPATIBLE WITH A PRETTY COMPLETE VERSION OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BEING CIRCULATED TO
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BY THE WEEKEND.
6. AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE FOREGOING, I SUGGEST THAT - DAVIES AND TEAM TRAVEL ON MONDAY 1 DECEMBER TO ALLOW FOR REST BEFORE THE NEGOTIATIONS. I WOULD LIKE THEM TO MEET ME FOR A SHORT BRIEFING MEETING AT THE TRAVELLERS AT 9.30 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY 3 DECEMBER. IF THEY DO THIS AND WOULD LIKE AN EXTRA MEETING WITH ANDREW EITHER ON THE AFTERNOON OF 2 DECEMBER OR MORNING OF 3 DECEMBER, THEY SHOULD RING HIM UP (I HAVE NOT MENTIONED THIS POSSIBILITY TO HIM).
7. IT WOULD CERTAINLY HELP IF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WERE TO JOIN THE DISCUSSIONS ON THURSDAY AND DEAL WITH OUTSTANDING
FINANCIAL ISSUES.
8. 1 TAKE THE POINTS IN YOUR PARAS 7, 8 AND 9 BUT HAD NOT SPOTTED THAT GIS ANNOUNCEMENT OF MY OWN PROGRAMME SURPRISINGLY EXCLUDED POSSIBILITY OF TALKS ON DEFENCE COSTS. WHAT I HAD AGREED WAS THAT THEY SHOULD BE STATED TO COVER A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES INCLUDING DEFENCE COSTS. BE THAT AS IT MAY, YOUR ANNOUNCE- MENT SHOULD BE IN A TOLERABLY LOW KEY OTHERWISE THE REQUIREMENT IN YOUR PARA 12 IS BOUND TO BE BREACHED. I SUGGEST SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES THAT IN CONTINUATION OF THE EXCHANGES THAT HAVE BEEN PROCEEDING SINCE MR RODGERS'S VISIT, A FURTHER MEETING OF OFFICIALS WILL BE HELD IN LONDON. MR DAVIES WILL BE BRIEFING ME ON THE POSITION REACHED AND I WILL BE MEETING MR RODGERS LATER
IN THE WEEK.
CALLAGHAN
FILES
HKIOD (4) SIR D WATSON MR LARMOUR MR CORTAZZI MR MALE
COPIES TO:
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
6 GRAFTON ST พา
R J ANDREW ESQ AUS(GS)
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
-2- SECRET
•
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.