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Mr Bickford, Legal Advisers
THE CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION OF THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG
1.
The Defence and External Affairs Sub-Committee of the House of Commons are visiting Hong Kong later this month and have asked for informal briefing by the FCO. We have arranged an oral briefing session next week on Tuesday 11 November.
2.
The Clerk of the Sub-Committee has now been in touch with us about the Sub-Committee's interest in the recent Defence Costs negotiations between Mr Rodgers and the Hong Kong Government. He has told us that the Sub-Committee would like a background paper prior to the oral briefing on the "Constitutional Position of the Governor as a representative of the Hong Kong Government in negotiations with HMG". PCCU have advised me that the Sub-Committee have the power to publish any such paper.
3.
I attach a draft background paper which has drawn extensively on a brief, cleared by you, for Mr Rodgers, which I also attach along with the Letters Patent and Royal Instructions.
4.
I would be grateful for any comments by close of play today.
CODE 18-77
5 November 1975
RB Janvrin
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.
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