TNAG-0758-FCO40-962-Strength-of-UK-armed-forces-stationed-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 207

CONFIDENTIAL

THE LAST PART OF CONCLUSION 1 IN THE EXCHANGE ABOUT THE

PROVISION OF HELP TO BRUNEIS BY THE HONG KONG JUDICIARY,

CONTAINS THE PHRASE:-

QUOTE PROVIDED THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS WILL TERMINATE FORTHWITH

IF AT ANY TIME THE UNITED KINGDOM CEASES TO BE RESPONSIBLE

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG UNQUOTE.

AFTER FURTHER REFLECTION I AM OF THE OPINION THAT THE INCLUSION

OF THIS PHRASE MIGHT LEAD ILL-WISHERS TO QUESTION WHY THE

CAVEAT HAD BEEN INCLUDED UNLESS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAD

AN INTENTION OR EXPECTATION OF CEASING TO EXERCISE RESPONSI-

BILITY. I AM ANXIOUS NOT TO ENCOURAGE SUCH SPECULATION, WHICH IS, INDEED, THE OPPOSITE OF THE TRUTH.

I PROPOSE, THEREFORE, THAT THE PHRASE SHOULD BE DELETED

FROM THE DOCUMENTS AS INITIALLED BY US IN LONDON ON 28

SEPTEMBER. I HOPE THAT YOU CAN AGREE, AND THAT THE

ALTERATION TO THE DOCUMENTS MAY BE MADE BEFORE SIGNATURE

TAKES PLACE IN DECEMBER. UNQUOTE

ENDS

3.

FLETCHER-COOKE WAS INFORMED OF OUR PROPOSAL WHEN HE CALLED HERE

ON 20 OCTOBER.

HE FULLY SUPPORTS IT, CONSIDERS IT TO BE IN

HIS HIGHNESS'S INTERESTS, AND ASKES THAT THESE VIEWS BE

CONVEYED TO THE SULTAN,

OWEN

FILES

SEAD

NTD

HK & GD

LEGAL ADVISERS

PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS

MR CORTAZZI

MR MURRAY

2

CONFIDENTIAL

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