TNAG-2240-FCO40-3219-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Royal-Navy-presence-1991 — Page 109

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FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 24093OZ FCO

TELNO 2346

OF 240851Z JULY 91

INFO DESKBY 24093OZ PEKING

CONFIDENTIAL

INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG

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MDHIAN 6584

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HKB 063/1

31 JUL 1991

PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR

OUR TELNO 2340: PATROL CRAFT

1. IF THE DECISION TODAY GOES THE WRONG WAY, I.E. TO WITHDRAW THE PATROL CRAFT AND ANNOUNCE IMMEDIATELY IN ANSWER TO A PQ, THEN WE MUST TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE FACT THAT I AM DUE TO MEET LU PING TOMORROW, 25 JULY.

2. IF THERE IS TO BE A PQ ON PATROL CRAFT THE SAME DAY I FEAR THAT I WILL HAVE TO TELL HIM, IN PARALLEL WITH GALSWORTHY SPEAKING TO GUO. I WOULD ENVISAGE SAYING SIMPLY THAT, AS HE MAY BE AWARE, THERE WAS A MAJOR STATEMENT ON 23 JULY ABOUT CUTS IN THE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT, AS A FOLLOW UP TO THAT, A DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN ON THE ROYAL NAVAL PRESENCE IN HONG KONG, AND GALSWORTHY WILL BE GIVING A FULL BRIEFING TO GUO. IF HE ASKS, I SHALL OF COURSE HAVE TO TELL HIM WHAT THE DECISION IS.

3. I DO NOT RELISH DOING THIS. IT WOULD ADD AN UNPLEASANT NOTE TO OUR MEETING. BUT SAYING NOTHING AND FAILING TO REFER TO WHAT THE CHINESE WILL SEE AS AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT LATER IN THE DAY, WOULD BE WORSE.

WILSON

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