TNAG-0617-FCO40-765-Strength-and-cost-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 147

CONFIDENTIAL

COVERING SECRET

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proceed on the assumption that there should be further consultations, especially before any public announcement is

made.

5. So far as concerns the Secretary of State's brief for next week's DOPC meeting, which SEAD are presumably taking the lead in preparing, I think we should aim to ensure that the statement in paragraph 6 of Hong Kong's telegram, which I have quoted above, should be inserted together with an endorsement of the assumption of the basis on which the MOD have been working.

19 May 1977

Encl

D.F. Milli

D F Milton

Hong Kong & General Dept K 247

233 4381

CONFIDENTIAL

COVERING SECRET