TNAG-2089-FCO40-2974-Diplomatic-representation-of-third-countries-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 140

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM F.CO

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELNO 648

OF 23153OZ MARCH 90

29 MAR 1200

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

120270 MDLOAN 987:

ESTABLISHMENT OF A DEFENCE OFFICE IN HONG KONG: REPUBLIC OF KOREA

1. THE KOREAN EMBASSY HERE HAVE WRITTEN TO US ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A DEFENCE OFFICE IN HONG KONG.

2.

THEY HAVE NOTED THAT THE US HAS BEEN MAKING CONSIDERABLE EFFORTS TO OPEN A DEFENCE OFFICE IN HONG KONG AND THAT QUOTE THESE EFFORTS SEEM TO HAVE HAD SOME SUCCESS UNQUOTE.

3. THE KOREANS HAVE SOUGHT OUR OPINION ON WHETHER AN APPROACH TO YOU WOULD BE FRUITFUL. THEY ARE ASKING WHETHER SUCH AN OFFICE WOULD BE BEST RUN AS A LIAISON OFFICER LINKED TO LONDON OR RUN FROM LONDON AS A SORT OF DOUBLE-HEADED ADMINISTRATION BY THE

DEFENCE ATTACHE RESIDENT IN LONDON.

4.

HURD

GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON THESE SUGGESTIONS.

YYYY

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