TNAG-0640-FCO40-788-Visits-of-nuclear-powered-merchant-ships-to-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 54

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Mr Milton

VISIT OF THE "OTTO HAHN" TO HONG KONG

15124/5

1. Both Energy Department and the MOD have agreed that we can now reply to the German Embassy's Note of 23 November along the lines of the draft enclosed with my letter of 21 April to Mr Drace-Francis; as amended by paragraph 5 of my minute of 10 May. The question is: should we do so now or wait until we have a consolidated Energy Department/MOD/DOT/UKAEA view of Mr Drace-Francis' letter of 3 May and its enclosure?

I

م

2.

My own view is that we should reply now to the German Note. Such action would have the following advantages:-

a.

b.

It would cut through the red tape surrounding this proposal, while

committing ourselves and the Hong Kong Government to a specific view.

There would be disadvantages:-

a.

b.

The Hong Kong Government might well be annoyed; and as to timing, if we reply now to the German Note in advance of replying to Mr Drace-Francis' letter of 3 May, then it is possible that the German Consulate- General in Hong Kong would know, before the Hong Kong Government, of the terms of our letter, and so cause Hong Kong some embarrassment.

We could get around this by sending, in parallel to a reply to the German Embassy, a telegram to Hong Kong which might begin:-

"We have today replied to the Federal Republic of

Germany Embassy Note of 23 November in the

following terms:

" and end

"letter will follow by bag hortly.'

(Both the letter and the telegram could go off tomorrow

after the closure of Friday's bag.)

3. The MOD say that they should have a consolidated view by "next week".

This points to our putting a letter into next Friday's

CODE 18 - 77

bag.

19 May 1977

Mr Dayid.

MINUTE

T J David

Hong Kong & General Department

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