SECRET
036667
MDHIAN 7151
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1552
OF 171123Z MAY 91
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
YRTELNO 956: ROYAL NAVY PRESENCE AFLOAT
1. I HAVE JUST RECEIVED THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S LETTER TO THE DEFENCE SECRETARY AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING, IN DUE COURSE, THE DEFENCE SECRETARY'S REPLY.
2. I AM CERTAINLY PREPARED TO SEND A TEAM FOR TALKS IN LONDON IF
THAT IS GOING TO HELP RESOLVE THE ISSUE. BUT THERE SEEMS LITTLE POINT IN DOING THIS UNLESS WE HAVE SOME HOPE OF THE TALKS BEING PRODUCTIVE. FOR THIS, WE WOULD NEED TO KNOW WHETHER MOD ARE PREPARED TO ACCEPT IN PRINCIPLE THE IDEA OF REDUCING FROM THREE PATROL CRAFT TO TWO AND, IN GENERAL TERMS, WHAT OTHER COST CUTTING OPTIONS THEY HAVE IN MIND. IN PARTICULAR, ARE THESE RELATED TO THE PATROL CRAFT OR THE COSTS OF THE GARRISON AS A WHOLE? ARMED WITH THIS SORT OF INFORMATION, OUR EXPERTS CAN HAVE A GOOD LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITIES BEFORE THEY REACH LONDON. WITHOUT IT, DISCUSSION SEEMS UNLIKELY TO BE AS PRODUCTIVE AS WE SHOULD LIKE. GRATEFUL FOR ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN EXTRACT FROM MOD ON THESE POINTS.
3. ON LOGISTICS, I ASSUME THAT YOU ARE THINKING IN TERMS OF WORKING-LEVEL TALKS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE FS'S PRESENCE ON OUR SIDE. I HAVE IN MIND THAT S FOR S SHOULD LEAD OUR TEAM. IT WOULD MAKE BEST SENSE IF THE TALKS COULD TAKE PLACE EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER HIS TRIP TO WASHINGTON, I.E. AFTER THE LAST WEEK OF MAY OR THE SECOND WEEK IN JUNE, PREFERABLY THE FORMER.
WILSON
YYYY
PAGE 1 SECRET
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.