CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
DRAFT SIGNAL TO CBF HONG KONG
PERSONAL FOR CBF FROM AUS(GS). PROPOSED VISIT OF THE DEFENCE
AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE EXPENDITURE COMMITTEE.
1. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LDD OF 220150Z APR. THE SUB-COMMITTEE HAS
NOW CONFIRMED ITS WISH TO VISIT HONG KONG, LEAVING LONDON
PM MON 17 NOV ON FLIGHT BA 880 ARRIVING TUE 18 NOV AT 1700 HRS
LOCAL TIME. IT WOULD PLAN TO LEAVE HONG KONG ON SAT 22 NOV BUT
THIS WOULD DEPEND UPON WHETHER YOU FEEL ABLE TO OFFER A PROGRAMME
TO KEEP THE MEMBERS CONTENT FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME AND ALSO
UPON WHERE THEY GO NEXT, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN AGREED.
2. I AM NOT YET ABLE TO GIVE YOU GUIDANCE ON ANY SPECIAL OBJECTIVES
THE SUB-COMMITTEE MIGHT HAVE IN MIND BUT I UNDERSTAND IT MAY WISH
TO TAKE A FORMAL ORAL EVIDENCE SESSION, PREFERABLY ON THE FRI
MORNING. IT WOULD WISH FOR THE VISIT TO BEGIN WITH MS POLITICAL
AND MILITARY BRIEFINGS FOLLOWED BY VISITS TO UNITS PREFERABLY
BALANCED TOWARDS TEETH ARM UNITS BUT WITH SOME OPPORTUNITY TO
SEE LOGISTIC SUPPORT UNITS, THE BMH, MARRIED QUARTERS ETC.
3. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS AND THOSE OF THE GOVERNOR I WOULD
SUGGEST THAT THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE FOR YOUR STAFF TO PRODUCE AN OUT-
LINE PROGRAMME, DEALING AT THIS STAGE DIRECT WITH MR BENHAM (MOD F1(N)),
THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE LIAISON OFFICER APPOINTED TO WORK WITH
THE SUB-COMMITTEE. MR BENHAM WILL IN DUE COURSE PROVIDE FURTHER
DETAILS OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE'S TOR, COMPOSITION ETC AND OF THEIR
OBJECTIVES AS THESE BECOME CLEARER.
4.
FCO ARE INFORMING GOVERNOR SEPARATELY AND WILL ALSO IN DUE
COURSE ANSWER HIS QUESTIONS ABOUT POWERS OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE IN
A DEPENDENCY.
CONFIDENTIA!
CONFIDENTIAL