TNAG-0757-FCO40-961-Strength-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 224

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2. WE ARE DELIBERATELY AVOIDING AN INSISTENCE THAT THE SULTAN SHOULD COME TO UK ON A SPECIFIC DATE. FLETCHER-COOKE THINKS HE WANTO SPEND SOME TIME PLAYING POLO, E.G. AT CIRENCESTER. IF YOU CAN MAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE ABOVE LETTER WITH THE SULTAN, OR FAILING ALL ELSE WITH ISA, THE POINTS TO GET OVER ARE:- (A) THE SULTAN MIGHT PLAN TO FULFIL PRIVATE ENGAGEMENTS IN UK FIRST, SO THAT HE IS FREE OF COMMITMENTS DURING THESE VERY SERIOUS TALKS, (B) LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS IS LOOKING FOR AN ASSURANCE THAT THE SULTAN WILL BE READY TO WORK AS INTENSIVELY AND FOR A REASONABLE PERIOD (WHICH WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE MORE THAN A WEEK) AS HE HIMSELF IS PREPARED TO DO.

OWEN

FILES

SEAD

HK & GD

DEFENCE D

PUSD

NEWS D

PS

Z

/COPIES SENT TO NO 10 DOWNING SI/

PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

PS/PUS

SIR A DUFF

MR CORTAZZI

MR MURRAY

MR EDMONDS

2.-

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