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Pa
L.
VISIT TO HONG KONG BY THE DEFENCE AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS SELECT COMMITTEE ON EXPENDITURE
Briefing by the FCO on 11 November
1.
This informal and off the record briefing this morning arises from a letter which the Clerk of your Committee sent to the Ministry of Defence in May. In this he listed a number of topics in which you were likely to be interested during your forthcoming visit to Hong Kong.
2.
The topics in question covered the responsibilities of both the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence. We subsequently agreed that most of them would best be covered by the staff of the Commander British Forces whilst you are in Hong Kong next week.
3.
However, we also agreed that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office would informally discuss some of the more obviously political subjects in advance of your arrival in Hong Kong. These subjects
were:
4.
(a) the internal administration of the Colony and the role
of the Governor;
(b) the use of Hong Kong by the US Navy and the support
given by the United States to the security of Hong Kong;
(c) the contribution of Hong Kong to the British economy; (a)
the comparison of the position of Hong Kong and Macao.
I will be drawing on information provided by the Ministry of Defence to cover very briefly the topic concerning the use of Hong Kong by the US Navy, Mr Martin of Far Eastern Department in the FCO will talk on Macao and Mr Dart of the Economists Department in the FCC will answer any detailed questions about the Hong Kong economy. The internal administration of the Colony and the role of the Governor has now largely been covered in the note and background brief submitted to you through your Clerk last Friday. I would, however, like to add a few general observations.
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