{
;
GPS 800
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 02110OZ FCO
TELNO 9
OF 320910Z JANUARY 86
SECRET
LIKK 382/2
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
03 JAN1986
DISK OFFICES
AVQUSTRY
INFO DESKBY 03010OZ PEKING INDEX
PA
Aulia Takan
3.
2.
MIPT * FUTURE OF HONG KONG POLICE • DRAFT SPEAKING NOTE.
BEGINS.
Redacted under FOI Exemption S 27(1):
# SHOULD LIKE TO RAISE THE FUTURE INTERNAL SECURITY OF HONG KONG.
BOTH OF US ARE PLEDGED TO STABILITY AND PROSPERITY FOR HONG KONG
DURING THE TRANSITION. IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN GOOD OPPER
AND CONFIDENCE OF HONG KONG BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER 1997.
THE JOINT DECLARATION MADE CLEAR THAT THE HONG KONG SAR WOULD BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF PUBLIC ORDER: AND WE ARE AWARE
OF CHINESE THINKING ON A PLA PRESENCE IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997.
WE HAVE SO FAR HAD LITTLE DISCUSSION ON THE MEANS. AM WELL AWAPE
THAT THIS IS A SENSITIVE AREA FOR THE CHINESE SIDE. THE SAME IS
TRUE FOR HMG.
2.
INTERNAL SECURITY IN HONG KONG HAS TRADITIONALLY BEEN ENSUPED
BY THE POLICE, SUPPORTED WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY BY THE BRITISH
GARRISON. THE BRATISH GARRISON WILL LEAVE FINALLY BY 30 JUNE 1997.
THIS WITHDRAWAL CANNOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. THERE WILL NEED TO BE
SOME STAGING: AND HMG WILL REED ## HONG KONG'S INTERESTS AS WELL
AS IN LTS OWN TO EXAMINE THE TIMING AND MODALITIES VERY CAPEFULLY:
THE DECISIONS WILL NOT BE RUSHED. GENERALLY THE CHINESE SIDE CAN
COUNT ON US TO PROCEED CAREFULLY AND SENSITIVELY. AS WE HAVE SAID
IN ANOTHER CONTEXT, WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF NEGLECTING OUP
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE GOOD. GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG IN, THE
PERIOD UP TO 1997.
3. WE HAVE HOWEVER COME TO ONE FIRM CONCLUSION ON AN IMPORTANT POINT
WHICH WILL BE OF INTEREST TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.
GIVEN THE PROVEN
CAPABILITY OF THE POLICE TO DEAL WITH INTERNAL SECURITY SETUATIONS
IN HONG KONG MMG HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO POLE FOR AN
INTERNAL SECURITY FORCE. BRITISH MINISTERS HAVE NOW RULED OUT THIS
POSSIBILITY. WE AGPEE THAT IT WOULD PE BETTER TO EXPAND THE POLICE
FORCE. WE SHALL WANT IN DUE COURSE TO ENLARGE ON THIS (OPEN SQUARE
BRACKETS) IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP (CLOSE SQUARE BRACKETS).
OUR OWN NEXT STEP WILL BE TO WORK OUT IN DETAIL HOW MUCH LARGER
THE POLICE FORCE WOULD NEED TO RE. OUR PRELIMINARY THINKING IS THAT
SECRET
/WE