Redacted
lunder FOI exemption 27(1)
SECRET
19
A
141254 MDHIAN 1656
SECRET
AMENDED DISTRIBUTION 282003Z
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3517
OF 271017Z NOVEMBER 90
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
TOP COPY G DIST ?/
YRTELNO 2253: ROYAL NAVY PRESENCE IN HONG KONG
P
нис
HKC. 062/
î
1990
1 I AM MOST ANXIOUS TO FIND A SENSIBLE WAY FORWARD ON THIS, PARTICULARLY WHEN FACED WITH THE CONFLICTING PRESSURES OF THE BRITISH COMMITMENT TO THE GULF, AND AN INCREASING TENDENCY HERE TO LOOK FOR POLITICAL AMMUNITION AS CANDIDATES LIMBER UP FOR ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR.
2. WE WILL DO WHAT WE CAN IN THE TALKS WHICH START LATER THIS WEEK. HOWEVER, I AM NOT/NOT ENCOURAGED TO SEE, JUST AFTER RECEIVING YOUR TELEGRAM, A NOTE OF THE MOD POSITION, SENT TO THE FS, BY HQBF HERE, SAYING THAT MINISTERS HAD ONLY AGREED TO RETENTION OF THE PATROL CRAFT SUBJECT TO 'A SATISFACTORY FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT WHICH WOULD RECOGNISE THAT RETENTION WOULD BE PRIMARILY TO MEET THE POLITICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT RATHER THAN MILITARY NEEDS'. ALSO THAT, IN THE ABSENCE OF A FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT, MINISTERS WOULD BE RECOMMENDED TO REAFFIRM THEIR EARLIER DECISION TO WITHDRAW THE PATROL CRAFT IN
1992.
3. I ASSUME THAT THE MOD NOTE IS ESSENTIALLY TRYING TO STAKE OUT A POSITION. NEVERTHELESS, IT IS A FALSE POSITION AND A BAD BASIS FOR STARTING THE TALKS. AS YOU KNOW, RETAINING THE PATROL CRAFT IS NOT/NOT PRIMARILY TO MEET THE POLITICAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE HKG. THERE IS A SPECIFIC MILITARY REQUIREMENT IN TERMS OF THE
• RESPONSIBILITY OF BRITISH FORCES HERE TO BACK UP THE CIVILIAN POWERS AND TO MAINTAIN BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY IN HONG KONG WATERS. IF THE PATROL CRAFT ARE WITHDRAWN, IT IS THE BRITISH COMMITMENT WHICH WILL BE SEEN AS WEAKENED.
4. EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE DECIDED NOT TO MAKE A HIGH LEVEL APPROACH AT THIS STAGE, AND I CAN UNDERSTAND THE THINKING BEHIND THIS, IT
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