TNAG-0752-FCO40-956-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 223

PRIORITY

GR 158

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIATE.

МКК аюн

1 4 FED 1973

ESK OFFICER

50. $1.

RESTRY

INDEX

лю

PA

* AYOR TRken

18

FM HONG KONG 142851Z

CONFIDENTIAL

TO PRIORITY F.C.O TELNO.176 OF 14 FEBRUARY 79.

See 19

FOLLOWING FOR THOMPSON, HONG KONG AND GENERAL DEPARTMENT,

FROM POLITICAL ADVISER.

1. I HAVE JUST SEEN COPIES OF THE RESEARCH DEPARTMENT MINUTES

TO YOU OF 32 JANUARY ABOUT THE ENQUIRY BY THE CANADIAN EXPORT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION ON HONG KONG. YOU WILL ALREADY HAVE

SEEN NY LETTER OF 17 JANUARY,

2. 1 HOPE WE WILL NOT MAKS A MEAL OF THIS NAIVE ENQUIRY. THE ANSWERS ABOUT THE VARIOUS TREATIES ARE SURELY SIMPLE: IN OUR EYES THEY ARE VALID. THE ONLY DOUBTS ARE ABOUT HOW MUCH IT IS POLITICALLY WISE TO STAND UP AND SHOUT ABOUT THEM IN PUBLIC. SIMILARLY, THE CHINESE CASE CAN BE LEFT TO SPEAK FOR ITSELF WITH ALL ITS IMPRECISION, THE BRIEFER THE REPLY WE GIVE THE

BETTER.

3. PLEASE MAY I SEE A COPY OF WHATEVER IS SENT TO THE CANADIANS.

MACLEHOSE

FILES

HKFGD.

MAD.

TRED.

MR CORTA221 MR MURRAY MIHALL

CONFIDENTIAL