CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY Q DIST?
MKB 182/7
83
155613 MDLIAN 2202
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 3004
OF 25090OZ SEPTEMBER 91
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
FOR RICKETTS, HKD FROM PS/GH.
182
YOUR TELNO 1724: PADS: TELEGRAM DISTRIBUTIONS.
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n
1 I AGREE THAT IT MAKES SENSE TO REVIEW OUR DISTRIBUTION OF TELEGRAMS ABOUT THE AIRPORT. LIKE YOU, WE HAVE TWO MAIN DISTRIBUTIONS. OUR MORE RESTRICTED ONE, WHICH WAS USED THROUGHOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS, HAS OVER TIME BEEN EXPANDED TO COVER ALL THE BRANCH SECRETARIES INVOLVED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WITH THE AIRPORT PROJECT (SECRETARY FOR TREASURY, SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS AND SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS). OUR OTHER DISTRIBUTION COVERS THE SAME PEOPLE, WITH THE SINGLE ADDITION OF THE BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION.
2 I TAKE IT THAT THE MAIN DISTINCTION BETWEEN YOUR TWO NEW DISTRIBUTIONS WILL BE THAT THE GENERAL' SERIES WILL HAVE SOME ELEMENT OF COMMERCIAL INTEREST, WHILE THE 'RESTRICTED' SERIES WILL BE USED FOR TELEGRAMS THAT ARE MORE OF A POLICY NATURE. ON THIS ASSUMPTION, THE SIMPLEST THING FOR US TO DO WOULD PROBABLY BE TO ADOPT YOUR NEW TITLES. THUS, THE QUOTE HONG KONG AIRPORT GENERAL UNQUOTE WOULD BE COPIED TO THE BTC AND THE QUOTE HONG KONG AIRPORT RESTRICTED UNQUOTE WOULD NOT BE.
3. AS YOU POINT OUT, INTRODUCING THESE ARRANGEMENTS WILL STILL ALLOW US BOTH TO SEND MATERIAL IN A PERSONAL SERIES IF THIS SEEMS MORE APPROPRIATE. ONE CAN ALSO IMAGINE SITUATIONS IN WHICH WE MIGHT WISH TO OPERATE ON A MORE RESTRICTED DISTRIBUTION THAN WHAT WILL NOW BE OUR 'RESTRICTED' ONE, BUT WE CAN DEAL WITH THESE AS AND WHEN THEY ARISE.
4. I SHALL NOW INFORM ALL CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEW DISTRIBUTIONS. TO ALLOW TIME FOR THE MESSAGE TO FILTER THROUGH, I SUGGEST THAT WE START THE NEW SYSTEM ON MONDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU SEE ANY DIFFICULTIES IN THIS.
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