SECRET
122
171500 MDHOAN 1404
HKA 233/1
SECRET
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 480
OF 13152OZ MARCH 92
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TOP COPY Q DIST?
la
1613
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR
119
YOUR TELNO 788: HMOCS ASSOCIATION
1.
WE SHOULD PREFER TO WAIT UNTIL CLOSE OF PLAY ON MONDAY 16 MARCH TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY TREASURY REACTION TO THE PRESENT POSITION. UNLESS YOU HEAR FROM US TO THE CONTRARY DESKBY 17003OZ, WE WOULD BE HAPPY FOR SIR DAVID FORD THEN TO SHOW LORD CAITHNESS'S LETTER IN CONFIDENCE TO MR CARTLAND, THE ACTING CHAIRMAN OF THE HMOCS ASSOCIATION, IF HE (OR YOU) BELIEVES THAT THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL AND IS SATISFIED THAT THE INFORMATION WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH (OR UNTIL WE ARE IN A POSITION TO GO PUBLIC, IF EARLIER).
2.
IT REMAINS OUR INTENTION THAT THE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD BE IN THE FORM OF A LETTER FROM LORD CAITHNESS TO CARTLAND (BASED ON PARAS 2 AND 3 OF THE LETTER TO SIR DAVID FORD). WE WONDER HOWEVER IF IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT HE RECEIVES THIS BY 23 MARCH, GIVEN THAT THE HMOCS ASSOCIATION MEETING IS PRESUMABLY ON THE EVENING OF 26 MARCH? IF THE CHINESE REACT BADLY TO MR GALSWORTHY'S BRIEFING, THERE MIGHT BE ADVANTAGE IN OUR AVOIDING ANY PUBLICITY UNTIL AFTER JLG XXII HAS COMPLETED ITS BUSINESS ON 26 MARCH (IE WE MIGHT ASK YOU TO PASS CARTLAND THE LETTER ON THE MORNING OF 26 MARCH).
HURD
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