file
T MON
IN CONFIDENCE
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
Telephone 01-
270-2650
R Dalley Esq
Director of Secretariat
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
2 Marlow Road
Maidenhead
Berkshire SL6 7DX
Dear Mr Dalley,
C225
か
Your reference
Our reference
ARZAAH
Date 16 February 1988
3
COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997
Thank you for your letter of 26 January. It was good of you to bring us up to date on your current thinking, following your Director General's discussions last November with the Governor and others in Hong Kong concerned with the future of war graves in Hong Kong after 1997.
We agree that the right approach would be first to settle the future of the war graves in the JLG and thereafter to confirm the position by appropriate legislative action in Hong Kong. We understand your concern to ensure that suitable arrangements are made before 1997: that is our objective too. It is clearly sensible to prepare our proposals in good time.
We are now considering with the Hong Kong Government how and when to take matters forward. We have not yet determined a precise timetable for discussion of the subject in the JLG. But it is on our list of matters to be raised with the Chinese in that forum, which is kept regularly under review. Our wish to press on with this matter must be weighed against the need to discuss with the Chinese other items of high priority and urgency. But as will be clear from the preceding paragraph, we have the future of the war graves in Hong Kong very much in mind and will ensure that it is not overlooked. I will be in touch again when the position is a little clearer.
Yours Sincerely
Alankan
A R Paul
Hong Kong Department
IN CONFIDENCE