TNAG-0640-FCO40-788-Visits-of-nuclear-powered-merchant-ships-to-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 73

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Reference.....

16.

Mr Makepeace (Energy Dept, G 87/1) (tined) Mr Free-Gore (Maritime & General Dept, G 65/1)

Mr Org

Mr Fuller

(Far Eastern Dept, K 253) (Defence Dept, E MS 22)

Mr Rawlinson (Western European Dept, W 67)

(DS 16, Ministry of Defence) (i)

Mr Scicluna

VISIT OF THE "OTTO HAHN" TO HONG KONG

lind

Separate copies

1. I would be grateful for your comments on, clearance of the attached draft letter from me to the Assistant Political Adviser in Hong Kong. In the absence of comments by close of play on 19 April, I shall assume that you have none.

2. You will see that I have tried, albeit hopefully, to thrust back at Hong Kong the work involved in setting up the Otto Hahn" s visit. Because of this I have also left it open to them to choose whether or not the visit is to go ahead.

15 April 1977

Encl

اکثر که که

T J David

Hong Kong & General Department K 245

233 4777

K

нка

X

HKK 175

Mr David

Many thanks for sending me the attached draft reply to Drace-Francis.

1.

2.

I see no problem with the line you take, but wonder whether, if we are leaving it to Hong Kong to say yes or no to the visit, we should be left to inform the Germans, and attract any criticism there may be, if the visit is refused.

3. If we are content to see the visit go ahead, subject to the assurances you lay down in your draft, should not Hong Kong now approach the Germans direct? They have, after all, been in touch with GKSS representatives already.

2:4

of

I think we should be wary being caught between the Germans and the Hong Kong authorities, and attracting (conceivably) criticism from both sides.

CODE 18 - 77

Rins

ر

T

15 April 1977

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R.E.lakepeace

Joint Nuclear Sect ion/ Energy Department