TNAG-0546-FCO40-641-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 114

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GRS 200

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER/CAT A

FROM FCO 151331Z

KLF.

SECRET

(472)

479

876

"chid AHKIL 6/500/

Jechin

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 958 OF 15TH DECEMBER 1975.

FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR ACTING GOVERNOR FROM GOVERNOR DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT.

472.

1. YOU WILL HAVE SEEN FCO TELEGRAM NO 957 CONTAINING THE TEXT

OF A LETTER FROM MR RODGERS TO ME OF 12 DECEMBER ARGUING STRONGLY

IN FAVOUR OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT THIS FRIDAY.

2. WHILE I AGREE THAT FRIDAY WOULD BE A GOOD TIME, I HAVE REPLIED

VIA ROBERT ANDREW THAT MY AGREEMENT TO AN ANNOUNCEMENT REMAINS

CONDITIONAL ON CLARIFICATION OF THE TIMING OF ANY ANNOUNCEMENT

OF IMPORT CONTROLS OR AN ASSURANCE THAT HONG KONG WILL NOT BE

AFFECTED.

3. AS YOU KNOW, A DECISION ON IMPORT CONTROLS HAS AWAITED THE

OUTCOME OF DISCUSSIONS WITH CHRYSLER AND RESOLUTION OF INTER-

DEPARTMENTAL DIFFERENCES, BUT IT NOW LOOKS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT THE DECISION WILL, (REPEAT, WILL), BE CLARIFIED IN TIME TO MEET MR RODGERS'S PROPOSAL.

4. YOU WILL HAVE GATHERED THAT MOST OF THE AMENDMENTS YOU HAVE

PROPOSED PRESENT NO REAL DIFFICULTY IN LONDON.

5. I READ YOUR TELEGRAM NO 661 TO MEAN THAT NOW THAT THE TEXT OF

THE MOU IS ACCEPTED AND HONG KONG'S REQUIREMENTS ABOUT THE TIMING

OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT HAVE BEEN CLEARLY STATED, EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

LEAVE IT TO ME TO PROCEED OR NOT TO PROCEED AS I THINK FIT IN THE

LIGHT OF HOW THE SITUATION DEVELOPS IN LONDON AND THE ASSURANCES

I CAN OBTAIN. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THIS, AND WILL TELEGRAPH. AGAIN LATER IN THE WEEK.

CALLAGHAN

FILES

HKIOD DEF D EID TRED

PS

PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS PS/PUS

COPIES TO

MR RJ ANDREW AUS(GS)MOD MR S T KIDD

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE 6 GRAFTON STREET, W1

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