TNAG-2238-FCO40-3217-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Royal-Navy-presence-1991 — Page 140

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 0713OOZ F C O

TELNO

429

OF 071126Z FEBRUARY 91

SECRET

022165

MDHIAN 2794

PERSONAL FOR MCLAREN DUSS FROM GOVERNOR

MIPT: HONG KONG PATROL CRAFT.

TEXT OF BRACK'S LETTER TO FS IS AS FOLLOWS:

1.

BEGINS

I AM SURE YOU WILL BY NOW HAVE SEEN SIR MICHAEL QUINLAN'S REPLY TO HE THE GOVERNOR'S LETTER CONCERNED WITH THE POSSIBLE FUTURE RETENTION IN THEATRE OF THE THREE REMAINING PATROL CRAFT.

THIS ISSUE HAS, OF COURSE, BEEN THE SUBJECT OF DISCUSSION AND NEGOTIATION, BOTH FORMALLY AND INFORMALLY, FOR NEARLY A YEAR AND WE ARE MOST ANXIOUS TO SECURE A SETTLEMENT AS TO FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS AND FUNDING BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH. I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THEREFORE IF, AS PROPOSED BY SIR MICHAEL QUINLAN, YOU COULD CONFIRM THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO VISIT LONDON SOMETIME DURING

THE NEXT THREE WEEKS. I APPRECIATE THIS IS NOT A PARTICULARLY

CONVENIENT TIME FOR YOU BUT THE CURRENT GULF CONFLICT IS PLACING HEAVY DEMANDS ON STAFFS IN LONDON AND IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO VISIT HONG KONG.

OUR POSITION ON THIS ISSUE HAS, I HOPE, BEEN CLEARLY SPELT OUT IN THE PERMANENT-UNDER-SECRETARY'S LETTER. THIS I TRUST WE

CAN COME TO A SATISFACTORY AGREEMENT DURING THE COURSE OF FURTHER

NEGOTIATIONS. QUITE SIMPLY WE HAVE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE ONE WAY

OR THE OTHER.

PERHAPS YOU COULD LET ME KNOW WHICH DATES WOULD BE MOST

CONVENIENT.

ENDS.

WILSON

YYYY

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