3
TIME THE EXISTENCE OF AN AGREEMENT WHICH THEY KNEW HAD IN TRUTH
BEEN CONCLUDED IN PRIVATE.
9.
MEMBERS EXPRESSED THE OPINION THAT THE MINIMUM INTERVAL
BETWEEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT AND ANY
ANNOUNCEMENT OF IMPORT RESTRICTIONS SHOULD BE TWO/THREE WEEKS.
10.
NO STRONG VIEWS WERE EXPRESSED AS TO WHICH ANNOUNCEMENT
SHOULD COME FIRST. THEREFORE, IF HMG WERE ABLE TO SAY THAT NO
IMPORT RESTRICTIONS WOULD BE ANNOUNCED UNTIL THE NEW YEAR, THE
AGREEMENT COULD BECONCLUDED AND ANNOUNCED WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
WE SHOULD APPRECIATE FORTY EIGHT HOURS WARNING.
11.
ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THERE IS ANY CHANCE OF IMPORT
RESTRICTIONS BEING IMPOSED BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, THE
AGREEMENT SHOULD NOT BE CONCLUDED OR ANNOUNCED UNTIL WE CAN BE
SURE OF A GAP OF AT LEAST TWO/THREE WEEKS BETWEEN THE TWO ANNOUNCE-
MENTS.
12.
WE ACCEPT THE POSITION WITH REGARD TO PUBLICATION OF
THE MOU AS SET OUT IN PARA 3 OF YOUR TELNO 945 OF 7 DEC.
13.
IN THE LIGHT OF THE ADVICE TENDERED ABOVE, WE DO
NOT PROPOSE TO MAKE ANY PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT HERE UNLESS QUESTIONED.
IF THIS HAPPENS, AS SEEMS VERY LIKELY, WE SHALL REPLY TO THE
FOLLOWING EFFECT
-
QUOTE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
HAVE MET TO CONSIDER REPORTS FROM LONDON ON THE PROGRESS ON
NEGOTIATIONS ON THE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT.
THE COMMENTS AND ADVICE
OF MEMBERS OF COUNCILS ON THESE REPORTS HAVE BEEN FORWARDED TO
LONDON TO THE HONG KONG TEAM WHICH IS CONTINUING NEGOTIATIONS THERE
UNQUOTE.
14.
IF FURTHER PRESSED, WE SHALL SAY THAT NO AGREEMENT HAS
YET BEEN CONCLUDED.
15.
ASSUMING THAT NO ANNOUNCEMENT HAS BEEN MADE BEFORE
THEY ARRIVÉ BACK IN HONG KONG, DAVIES AND THORNTON SHOULD DO THEIR
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