TNAG-2115-FCO40-3018-16th-meeting-of-the-Sino-British-Joint-Liaison-Group--London-1990 — Page 155

RESTRICTED

RESTRICTED

FM FCO

TO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG

TELNO 79

OF 101010Z JULY 90

HKC031 20

NEW

12 JUL 1990

JPY

Q DIST?

6

133775

MDLOAN 0279

hu

1097

PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY FROM PAUL, HKD

JLG XVI: ATTENDANCE OF LEICESTER

1. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TELELETTER OF 1 JUNE, SETTING OUT THE CASE FOR GRAHAM LEICESTER'S ATTENDANCE AT JLG XVI.

2. I HAVE DONE MY BEST TO SECURE AGREEMENT TO THE FUNDING OF LEICESTER'S JOURNEY HERE IN SEPTEMBER. I REGRET TO SAY THAT, AGAINST THE CURRENT BACKGROUND OF EXTREME FINANCIAL AUSTERITY WITHIN THE OFFICE, I HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL, DESPITE HAVING DEPLOYED THE COGENT ARGUMENTS SET OUT IN YOUR TELELETTER. THE HARSH FACT IS THAT, UNLESS WE CAN DEMONSTRATE THAT A JOURNEY IS ESSENTIAL, AS DEFINED BY THE STRICTEST CRITERIA, AGREEMENT TO FUNDING OF ANY JOURNEY IS NOT FORTHCOMING. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SPARE CASH IN THE TRAVEL BUDGET: THIS MEANS THAT IN PRACTICE

EACH AND EVERY JOURNEY HAS TO BE JUSTIFIED ON AN AD HOC BASIS

ON ITS MERITS.

3.

ALTHOUGH IT WILL BE NO CONSOLATION AT ALL TO LEICESTER TO KNOW THIS, YOU MIGHT LIKE TO EXPLAIN TO HIM THAT FAMILIARISATION VISITS TO HONG KONG BY MEMBERS OF HKD HAVE ALSO BEEN SEVERELY CUT BACK, AND THERE MUST BE SOME DOUBT WHETHER EVEN NEW GRADE 5S WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR SUCH VISITS UNDER PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES.

4.

HURD

I AM SORRY I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GIVE YOU BETTER NEWS.

YYYY

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