Mr Kirkness, ODA
HKG 025/4
INDEX
27 JUL 1979
Acton Take:
No 8/8 18 8
47
Now see
56
DEPENDENT TERRITORIES SEMINAR
1. We are planning to hold a seminar to discuss the future of our remaining Dependencies at the IDS, Brighton, from 24 to 26 September. I attach a copy of the letter I have sent to a number of academics, which explains our ideas.
2. The Seminar will probably be chaired by Mr Stratton, and the Minister of State, Mr Ridley, hopes to take part for some of the time. Other FCO representatives will come from my department, WI AD and Research Department. In view of your own experience in this field, I very much hope that you will be able to represent the ODA. If this is not possible, could you suggest a suitable alternative? Mr Ridley is anxious that we should have a financial hatchet man at the Seminar, so someone from that side of your house would be most appropriate especially since the WIAD representative will, as ever, wear two hats!
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3. Among the other participants will be former Governors John Smith and Walter Wallace. We are also inviting Ted Rowlands MP, Douglas Williams and Bruce Greatbatch. I will let you have a full list of the participants and other details as soon as they are available.
25 July 1979
RJT McLaren
Hong Kong and General Department