Sir D Watson
CONFIDENTIAL
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Mr Male
Mr Sloman (PCCU)
HONG KONG: DEFENCE AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SUB-COMMITTEE (DEASC)
1.
The Governor of Hong Kong warned you in his letter of 2 July that he has asked Sir Denys Roberts to discuss the DEASC's forthcoming visit to Hong Kong when he calls on you
tomorrow.
2. The attached brief has been prepared by the Parliamentary Commissioner and Committees Unit. The DEASC is described in paragraphs 8-11, which I suggest you should take as a basis for your replies to Sir Denys's questions. You might also say that we shall send the Governor a copy for his further guidance. Also relevant is the brief which Defence
I attach Department recently prepared for Mr Thomson. the two telegrams to which Sir M MacLehose refers in his letter, together with Hong Kong telegram number 695 which we have just received. We shall be discussing the latter with MOD; but you could tell Sir Denys that we are still hoping to steer the Committee away from the idea of taking formal
evidence.
3. We were aware that the inclusion of items (g) to (j) in the list of the Sub-Committee's interests (paragraph 2 of Mr Jackson's minute) might worry the Governor. However, as
we hope
indicated in our telegram number 506 to Hong Kong, to ensure that the Sub-Committee receive adequate briefing on these points before they leave London and that they will not seek any formal evidence on them while in Hong Kong.
On the whole it seems better to make a positive response to
the Committee's request for information on these matters, partic-
ularly since they will need to be briefed anyway, rather
than to try to head them off.
15 July 1975
PL O'Keeffe
Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Dept