TNAG-1021-FCO40-1271-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-international-organisations-1981 — Page 46

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

D C Wilson Esq

Government Secretariat Hong Kong

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See ILA

13

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MEMBERSHIP OF ICM

1.

Me Konize.

'ebruary 1981

_18/2 ju

Mo, uit really. It was simply that or Wilson asked that ICM Hg. not be told- para 3 of his lette at jois (5). There are of wine fuiancial implications for Hongthong hinhing Finance Committee.

I must come clean with you personally so I am writing you and Philip Morrice a letter which you can, if you wish, destroy and need not keep on file.

Jrochiama

17.2

2. All of us here, including Peter Marshall, thought that we could not give you a useful reply to your letter of 20 January, without making enquiries which would at least risk spilling the beans to the ICM. We also know James Carlin pretty well (and so do you). I met him socially on a couple of occasions on my first two months here. With Peter Marshall's agreement, I therefore took advantage of an introductory call to raise your question, having first sworn him to secrecy and made him promise not to record anything on ICM files or tell his staff. The enclosures to my main letter of today is largely based on material which he supplied. The delay was because Mr Carlin is under a good deal of pressure and has only recently returned from New York and Ottawa.

3. I am confident that our indiscretion with Carlin will not get about and cause you trouble with your local people. I am also confident that Carlin himself understands that this is merely a first enquiry and without commitment. He naturally hopes that you will end up deciding to join, but he will not pester.

4. You may also be interested to know that Carlin had received in Ottawa the strong impression that Canada might soon rejoin the ICM. The Ministries of Immigration and Exernal Affairs had agreed at official level to put up the case to Ministers. Carlin also thought that Sweden, which returned as an observer this year, might also rejoin later. Relations between ICM and Sweden were getting closer and membership would be the natural outcome. He said the French too, though not yet observers, were showing signs of interest and a man from Paris was arriving that very day for discussions. Carlin commented that if Hong Kong joined this would give ICM a great psychological lift, and would be a good example to the rest of S E Asia.

M

こんに

C W Long

CC:

P Morrice Esq, HKGD, FCO