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Plas 14/1
HONG KONG REPRESENTATION AT HEADS OF MISSION CONFERENCE : BANGKOK, 13 14 DECEMBER
1.
Sea (34
You had not seen, until yesterday, Mr McLaren's teleletter of 1 November. You have seen the telegram of 28 October from Mr Adams. Both Mr McLaren and Mr Adams have now asked for an early reply to the points they raised.
2.
I have discussed this with SEAD. They feel that the decision on attendance is for Hong Kong, based on Hong Kong's assessment of the likely interest that the Conference will hold for them, and taking account of other factors, such as the possibility that the Political Adviser's office would be left under-staffed during the Conference. As regards Mr McLaren's query concerning the date by which a decision has to be made, SEAD say that a late decision is unlikely to cause organisational problems.
3.
Paragraph 4 of FCO telegram number 393 to Bangkok points out that the Conference will only be of limited interest to Hong Kong. Mr Adams nevertheless sees value in his attendance (flag B). As Mr Adams is keen to go, it might be possible for him to attend as the Hong Kong representative, if it was felt that there should be one and if Mr McLaren agreed. This would have the advantage that the Political Adviser's office would not be reduced to one over the period of the Conference. In reaching a decision Hong Kong will also need to bear in mind that Lord Belstead will be at the Conference, and will very recently have been in Hong Kong.
4.
I submit a draft teleletter from you to Mr Mclaren, copied to Mr Adams, which covers these points. SEAD concur.
Tom Smith
23 November 1982
T W M Smith
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SEAD
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