CONFIDENTIAL
MOD's
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MINISTER OF STATE FOR
THE ARMED FORCES
LOOSE MINUTE
D/MIN(AF)/JS/1/9/4
Nov 86
APS/S of S
Copy to:
PS/CDI
AUS (DS)
-
Sec(0) (C) Mr Pollard
HCDC: VERY GRAND TOUR
B -11 NOV 1986 5114
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FILE 1/1/6 HKK
See (d)(C) Distribution
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RECEIVED 'N REGISTRY
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18 NO 1986
DOCK OFFICER
INDEX
154
RCISTRY
PA
Action Taken
18
FCO- Defence Dept, EAD, HID,
MED.
I attach briefing material submitted by Mr Pollard in Sec(0)(C) for the HCDC's forthcoming tour of Oman, Diego Garcia and Hong Kong. Minister(AF) was grateful for the opportunity to clear the briefing, and is content with it subject to the following:
a.
in paragraph 1 of the Armilla Patrol brief the two square- bracketed sentences require confirmation or amendment before the brief is submitted;
b. in paragraph 4 of the Armilla Patrol brief the Minister would be glad if consideration could be given to inserting the point that HMG takes the view that it is in British interests to uphold the right for a state in armed conflict to be able to search neutral shipping on the high seas. This makes Mr Renton's statement more understandable;
C.
regarding paragraph 6 of the Hong Kong Garrison General brief, Minister(AF) would be grateful if the Secretary of State could be consulted personally on whether "collection of intelligence and" (line 1) should be deleted in accordance with the Government's stated position that intelligence matters are outside the purview of Select Committees. Whether or not the Secretary of State decides to retain this phrase, the Minister believes CBF Hong Kong will need to be given very careful guidance by CDI as to what he can and cannot say if the Committee questions him and/or his staff on this aspect.
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CA GORDON APS/Minister (AF) MB 6113 6326 MB
CONFIDENTIAL