CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE BTC HONG KONG
TELNO 37
OF 28175OZ JANUARY 91
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
HKD 340QDIST ?
RECEIVE
1 FEB 1991
(27)
165507 MDHOAN 6608
1929/1
Rr
Major.
INDEX
PA
SODORE 1bku.
บ
PERSONAL FOR HEAP FROM PAUL, HKD~
YOUR TELNO 32: BRITISH UNDERTAKINGS
1. I HAVE TELEGRAPHED SEPARATELY CONFIRMING THAT YOUR COMMITTEE'S LISTS OF BRITISH UNDERTAKINGS HAVE NOW BEEN APPROVED
BY MINISTERS.
2.
I SHOULD ADD, HOWEVER, THAT YOUR OWN PERSONAL EFFORTS AND THOSE OF YOUR COMMITTEE, AND THE EFFORTS OF THE LOCALLY ENGAGED STAFF OF THE TRADE COMMISSION, IN PREPARING THIS LIST ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, BOTH BY MINISTERS AND BY THE REST OF US. WE ARE ONLY TOO AWARE OF THE DETAILED AND TIME CONSUMING NATURE OF THIS WORK. I AM SURE THAT LORD CAITHNESS WILL WISH TO THANK
YOU PERSONALLY.
3. I HOPE THEREFORE THAT YOU WILL NOT INTERPRET OUR ANXIETY TO GET ON WITH DECISION MAKING ON THE ''DIFFICULT'' COMPANIES AS IN ANY WAY IMPLYING DILATORINESS OR INDECISION ON THE PART OF YOUR COMMITTEE. ON THE CONTRARY, WE FULLY UNDERSTAND THE
DIFFICULTIES YOU FACE IN EXTRACTING AND PROCESSING THE NECESSARY
INFORMATION FROM THE COMPANIES CONCERNED.
4.
WE ALSO TAKE YOUR POINT (PARA 3) THAT THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE IS A CONTINUING PROCESS. WHEN JAMES SMITH-LAITTAN CALLED ON THE DEPARTMENT LAST WEEK, WE EMPHASISED THAT HE WOULD BE PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE IN THESE MATTERS DURING THE COMING MONTHS. I WILL BE MAKING THE SAME POINT WHEN I SEE HIM FOR A BRIEFING LUNCH TOMORROW.
5.
FINALLY, ON A TECHNICAL POINT, OUR LEGAL ADVISERS HAVE COMMENTED THAT WHEN THE LISTS ARE APPROVED, IT WILL BE HIGHLY DESIRABLE TO DRAW UP, FOR YOUR COMMITTEE'S CONTINUED USE, A MORE DEFINITIVE VERSION OF THE VARIOUS CRITERIA WHICH NOW APPLY.
THIS SHOULD TAKE THE FORM OF A REVISED AND EXPANDED VERSION OF THE LIST OF CRITERIA SET OUT IN OUR TELNO 1625 OF 4 SEPTEMBER 1990. WE ARE WORKING ON THIS AND WILL LET YOU HAVE THE REVISED
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