SECRET
HKB 063
51
152513
MDLOAN 9929
SECRET FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 824
OF 291655Z APRIL 91
19
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TOP COPY
Q DIST?
pa
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD
GOVERNOR
YOUR TELNO 1278: HONG KONG PATROL CRAFT
1. I AM SORRY IF MY TELEGRAM (WHICH IS NOW BEING COPIED TO PEKING AND UKREP JLG HONG KONG) GAVE YOU THE IMPRESSION THAT THE MOD CONSIDER THE BALL TO BE IN THEIR COURT. THE DEFENCE SECRETARY IS WILLING TO LOOK AT THE MATTER. BUT HIS OFFICIALS ARE WAITING FOR IDEAS FROM YOU BEFORE HE DOES SO.
2.
IT IS GOOD TO KNOW THAT THE OPTION OF REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PATROL CRAFT FROM 3 TO 2 IS FEASIBLE, DESPITE THE DISADVANTAGES WHICH YOU POINT OUT. BUT I AM NOT SURE IF THIS ALONE WOULD DO THE TRICK. ONE WAY OF TRYING TO FIND OUT WOULD BE FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO HAVE A FURTHER WORD WITH THE DEFENCE SECRETARY, IN AN ATTEMPT TO PERSUADE HIM TO ACCEPT SUCH A SOLUTION. SHOULD I SO RECOMMEND?
3 =
IF THIS PROVES TO BE INSUFFICIENT, WE WOULD THEN NEED TO CONSIDER OTHER IDEAS, EG. AN OFFER OF SECONDMENT OF HKG PERSONNEL TO THE CREWS OF THE PATROL CRAFTS TO ENABLE MANNING LEVELS (AND COSTS TO THE MOD) TO BE BROUGHT DOWN. AND ALTHOUGH YOU HAVE HAD TO CONCLUDE THAT THERE IS NO SCOPE FOR INGENUITY OVER THE FUNDING OF CERTAIN TASKS CURRENTLY UNDERTAKEN BY THE GARRISON, I WONDER WHETHER THERE ANY OTHER SERVICES WHICH MIGHT ARGUABLY FALL OUTSIDE THE AMBIT OF DCA RELATED DUTIES, WHICH COULD BE OFFERED.
4 =
IN ANY EVENT, I HOPE THAT A VISIT TO LONDON BY HKG NEGOTIATORS CAN TAKE PLACE SOON. MOD'S ATTITUDE IS LIKELY TO HARDEN FURTHER (IF THAT IS POSSIBLE EXCLAM) AS TIME PASSES. AND THERE ARE REAL DEADLINES.
HURD
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