TNAG-2379-FCO40-3458-Hong-Kong-nationality-British-Nationality-(Hong-Kong)-Act-19-1991 — Page 100

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

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TO DESKBY 07003OZ BTC HONG KONG

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OF 06160OZ FEBRUARY 91

AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

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017562 MDHOAN 7305

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1 5FEB 1991

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HUTCHISONS : CALL ON LORD CAITHNESS BY LORD DERWENT AND SIMON MURRAY, 11 FEBRUARY

1. LORD DERWENT AND SIMON MURRAY ARE CALLING ON LORD CAITHNESS ON 11 FEBRUARY. THE TIMING OF THE CALL NO DOUBT REFLECTS SIMON MURRAY'S PRESENCE IN LONDON TO ATTEND THE CONCERT WHICH HUTCHISONS ARE SPONSORING AT THE ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL THAT EVENING. BUT WE ASSUME THAT THE CALL WILL BE MORE THAN A COURTESY. LORD CAITHNESS WILL NEED TO BE BRIEFED ON ANY SUBJECTS WHICH THEY MAY WISH TO RAISE.

2. THE MAIN TOPIC OF CONVERSATION WILL PROBABLY BE THE NATIONALITY PACKAGE. WE THINK IT QUITE LIKELY THAT THEY MAY COMPLAIN THAT NOT ALL OF HUTCHISONS' SUBSIDIARIES AND SIBLINGS WILL QUALIFY AS BRITISH UNDERTAKINGS. GRATEFUL TO KNOW PRECISELY HOW MUCH HUTCHISONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TOLD ABOUT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S DECISIONS AND FOR ADVICE ON A DEFENSIVE LINE WHICH LORD CAITHNESS COULD DEPLOY.

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WE HAVE ALSO SEEN A REPORT IN THE FINANCIAL TIMES OF

6 FEBRUARY THAT LI KA SHING HAS BID TO TAKE CAVENDISH INTO PRIVATE OWNERSHIP. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT HUTCHISON HAS BID TO BUY THE 34.72 PER CENT OF CAVENDISH SHARES IT DOES NOT 'ALREADY OWN. WOULD THIS AFFECT ITS ELIGIBILITY FOR INCLUSION IN THE BRITISH UNDERTAKINGS LIST? AND SHOULD LORD CAITHNESS BE

BRIEFED TO COVER THIS ASPECT?

3. (FOR HONG KONG). GRATEFUL FOR BRIEFING AS APPROPRIATE ON ANY OTHER SUBJECTS WHICH YOU BELIEVE SIMON MURRAY AND LORD DERWENT MAY WISH TO RAISE WITH LORD CAITHNESS.

GRATEFUL FOR REPLIES DESKBY 07093OZ.

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