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issues at the technical level. No doubt the ideal would be a carefully drafted joint FCO/HO line sent to us by telegram proposing a practical solution to practical problems. Short of that (and we are), on any other issue of comparable technical subtlety (e g on European Community dossiers) experts from capitals would probably already have got together. We have now made several demarches on instructions from London on this general subject. Given other competing priorities we do not have the time or resources to take on this brief in the detail that would enable us to replace those with direct responsibility in the Departments concerned. If the FCO judge that the subject is of sufficient political importance both in London and Hong Kong and you wish to limit the damage from any possible future incident, I think it is time we stopped dealing at arms' length with the French and got down directly to brass tacks. But it will be important to have a balanced team on our side and not to present the French with such ✩ stark or unvarnished version of Home Office requirements that the situation is in fact made worse.
boms
Jim
Ym
PJ Weston
CC:
CO Hum Esq, Hong Kong Department, FCO DFB Le Breton Esq CBE, NTD, FCO
JDI Boyd Esq CMG, Political Adviser, Hong Kong
CONFIDENTIAL
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