Cypher
CONFIDENTIAL
OUTWARD TELEGRAM
FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63
20 JAR../
18/9
HWB 18/9
TO HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
FED 299/666/01
A
Sent 19th January, 1967. 23.00 hrs,
PRIORITY
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 124
From Galsworthy.
LAST
REF.
非您
Your telegram No. 26. !
See
REF.
(2)
Transfer of responsibilities from M.P.B.W.
We are studying points raised in your telegram under reference and will let you have our comments as soon as possible.
2. Meanwhile, we think it very desirable that a small team of M.P.B.W. and M.O.D. Officials should come out to Hong Kong in the second half of next week for discussions on a number of matters that must be settled if the arrangements recently agreed are to operate smoothly from the 1st April. They will have a number of practical points to settle with their own people, with the Services and with your people concerning the financial and administrative arrangements for the hand-over. These include questions relating to the execution by P.W.D. of work for which the U.K. Government will pay, demarcation of responsibility, standards, methods of dealing with major work, transfer of stock, contracts, liabilities, etc. There are also problems affecting U.K.- based staff and the future M.P.B.W. organisation in Hong Kong. In view of the tight time-table it seems to us essential that such matters be settled in principle on the spot. Very much hope you can confirm that visit of team next week would be convenient. I am certain it would greatly help.
3.
Ministers would also wish the team to elucidate further the position on questions raised by the transfer of staff, and to explore possibility of your P.W.D. taking over responsibility for other M.P.B.W. work.
Copies sent to:-
Ministry of Public Building
#
1:
and Works
"#
Ministry of Defence
Treasury
Sir Mark Tennant
Mr.
Mr.
Stretton
Johnston
Mr. Dromgoole Mr.
Littler
CONFIDENTIAL
Page 30Page 31
сп
PRIORITY MARKINGS
Emergency
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