TNAG-0757-FCO40-961-Strength-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 223

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TO PRIORITY BRUNEI TELNO 65 OF 13 APRIL

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MRS. Mir

See 99

INFO) HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR) CANBERRA WELLINGTON WASHINGTON

KUALA LUMPUR SINGAPORE JAKARTA.

YOUR TELNO 90: BRUNET NEGOTIATIONS

1. YOU SHOULD NOW ADVISE THE SULTAN IN WRITING ON THE FOLLOWING

LINES.

A) HIS LETTER OF 3 APRIL HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO THE QUEEN AND THE GOVERNMENT ARE PREPARED TO PROCEED ON THE LINES OF HIS LETTER

TO YOU OF 3 APRIL,

(B) LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS LOOKS FORWARD TO SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SULTAN AND HIS ADVISERS WITH A VIEW TO REACHING SPEEDY AGREEMENT ON THE BASIS OF THE BRITISH PROPOSALS ALREADY BEFORE THE SULTAN (THIS PICKS UP THE WORDING OF THE QUEEN'S MESSAGE). (C) THE GOVERNMENT HAVE NOTED THE VARIOUS MATTERS WHICH THE SULTAN WISHES TO RAISE IN THE DISCUSSIONS AND AGREE THAT THESE AND OTHER POINTS RELATING TO THE BRITISH PROPOSALS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN

THE FORTHCOMING TALKS. THEY RENEW THE ASSURANCE ALREADY CONVEYED TO THE SULTAN (BY DONALD MURRAY) THAT LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS WILL BE

READY TO CONSIDER ANY MATTERS THAT THE SULTAN MAY WISH TO RAISE.

THEY ALSO REAFFIRM THAT THEY ARE NOT SEEKING TO ESTABLISH A TIME

LIMIT FOR THESE NEGOTIATIONS WHICH THEY BELIEVE, AND HAVE NO DOUBT

THAT THE SULTAN ALSO BELIEVES, WILL REQUIRE DEEP AND SERIOUS DISCUSSION. HOWEVER IT IS THEIR VIEW, AND THEY ARE CONFIDENT THAT IT IS ALSO THE SULTAN'S INTENTION, THAT SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS MUST

BE MADE IN THE FORTHCOMING TALKS,

(D) LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS WOULD THEREFORE WELCOME AN EARLY INDICATION

FROM THE SULTAN OF THE DATE ON WHICH HE AND HIS ADVISERS WILL

TRAVEL TO THE UNITED KINGDOM. TAKING OTHER COMMITMENTS INTO ACCOUNT LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS PROPOSES THAT DISCUSSIONS SHOULD START ON 12 JUNE AND WOULD BE PREPARED TO WORK INTENSIVELY WITH THE SULTAN, IN THEIR CUSTOMARY SPIRIT OF TRUST AND FRIENDSHIP, FOR AS LONG AS MAY PROVE NECESSARY, HE HOPES THESE CONSIDERATIONS ARE IN THE SULTAN'S MIND ALSO.

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