TNAG-1034-FCO40-1284-Visits-by-non-officials-from-Hong-Kong-to-the-UK-1981 — Page 53

C

CONFIDENTIAL

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL'S MEETING WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION

BID FOR THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND

POINTS TO MAKE

1.

FCO can take no position on commercial merits of rival bids.

2. Our concern is that bids should be judged on basis of legitimate

interests of UK banking system, and on no other grounds.

3. Wish to prevent this becoming an issue in UK/Hong Kong relations

or harming commercial confidence in Hong Kong.

CONFIDENTIAL