OKA
FE
SECRETUEVES A
PS/MINISTER OF STATE (2
Copy to: PSO/CDS*
PS/PUS
Sec/ONC
MA/CGS PS/CAS DUS (P)* ACDS(Pol ACDS (Ops
DMO
DASD
AUS(D Staff)
AUS(P&B)
AUS (CF)
Reference..
AUS(OS) 433/7:
(D/DSE 46/66/1)
D OF DP(C)* Head of Fi(air)* DDAG +
S1(Kr. Jones) * D56(Mr. Ward)* FCO-HKIOD (Mr. Timms)* Creasury
**
311
(Mr. Hansforā}*
PSA (Mr. Apgleton) s
Ex
Mu. Jayna 8/16/x
AUS (NS)
AUS(AS)
CPR*
Dim
-70/10
SECCOS*
HONG KONG DEFENCE COSTS NEGOTIATIONS OCTOBER 1975
The negotiations are due to begin in Hong Kong on 28 October and the Minister of State and his party will be leaving by RAP VC10 on 26 October. In addition to members of the Private office, the officials accompanying the Minister will be:-
AUS(GS) D of DP(C)
Head of Fi(Air)
Mr. Jones, DS1
Mr. Ward, DS6
Possibly a representative of CPR
Mr. O'Keeffe of the PCO is already in Hong Kong and will join the party on their arrival.
2.
I now enclose copies of the briefs which have been prepared for the Minister of State's use. These are still in some respects incomplete; but I understand that it is proposed to hold a brief- ing meeting on 21 October and as the material is somewhat volumin- ous I am submitting it in its present form to allow adequate time for consideration before then.
3. I suggest that the Minister will wish to pay particular attention to the Steering Brief (A), the Opening Statement to the Executive Council and Finance Committee (B) and the briefs on the political and economic situations in Hong Kong (G and P). The Steering Brief is still in draft since it is difficult to discuss our negotiating position until we have a reply from the Chancellor of the Exchequer on possible fallback positions. The section on negotiating tactice is at present weak, but I hope that the brief will at least serve as a basis for discussion at the meeting on 21 October, after which it can be revised as necessary,
11. Brief D on the Costw of the Proposed Garrison will require some revision to incorporate new figures which are now being prepared by D51 in response to a request from Hong Kong: these should be available early next week. We are slso still awaiting the results of studies in the Navy Department on the naval element
SECRETZ EYES A