CONFIDENTIAL
034116
MDHOAN 3697
GIVE SOME EVIDENCE ON THE RECORD, AS HAD BEEN THE PRACTICE IN THE CASE OF PREVIOUS ENQUIRIES IN DEPENDENT TERRITORIES. (THERE ARE TWO RELEVANT PRECEDENTS: THE FAC ENQUIRY ON GIBRALTAR IN 198U/81 AND THE FAC ENQUIRY ON THE FALKLAND ISLANDS IN 1983. IN THE CASE OF GIBRALTAR, FORMAL EVIDENCE WAS TAKEN IN GIBRALTAR BOTH IN OPEN
WE AND CLOSED SESSION FROM THE GOVERNOR AND HIS OFFICIALS. UNDERSTAND THAT THE EVIDENCE WAS NOT IN FACT PUBLISHED BECAUSE THE TAPERECORDINGS PROVED TO BE FAULTY. IN THE CASE OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS THE COMMITTEE TOOK FORMAL EVIDENCE IN OPEN AND CLOSED SESSION, FROM BOTH THE MILITARY AND CIVILIAN GOVERNORS. MR REX HUNT ALSO GAVE THE COMMITTEE AN INFORMAL OFF-THE-RECORD BRIEFING). IN ADDITION, THE FAC MAY ALSO WISH TO HOLD AN INFORMAL OFF-THE-RECORD MEETING WITH THE YOU. WE SHALL CLERLY NEED TO GIVE FURTHER CAREFUL THOUGHT TO THIS SPECT. (C) THE FAC WILL NEED AN APPROPRIATE VENUE TO HOLD FORMAL HEARINGS. IF THESE ARE TO BE OPEN HEARINGS, THE VENUE WILL NEED SUFFICIENT SPACE FOR A PUBLIC GALLERY AND FOR THE PRESS AND RADIO (NO TELEVISION MEDIA WILL BE PERMITTED INSIDE THE VENUE, IN COMMON WITH PRACTICE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS). THE FAC MAY ALSO NEED AN INTERPRETER, AS WE EXPECT SOME WITNESSES MAY WISH TO SPEAK IN CANTONESE. WILSON SAID THAT THE FAC WOULD PROBABLY PREFER TO USE OFFICIAL PREMISES FOR THIS PURPOSE, BUT APPRECIATE THAT APPROPRIATE OFFICIAL PREMISES MIGHT NOT BE AVAILABLE. OTHER OPTIONS MIGHT BE A HOTEL OR THE CONVENTION CENTRE. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD GIVE THIS PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION. (D) WILSON EXPECTS THE FAC TO BE INUNDATED WITH SUBMISSIONS AND REQUESTS FROM ORGANISATIONS/INDIVIDUALS TO PRESENT THEIR CASE DIRECTLY TO THE COMMITTEE. HE WILL IN DUE COURSE LOOK TO US FOR ADVICE ON THE STATUS OF SUCH ORGANISATIONS/INDIVIDUALS. THE FAC IS NATURALLY KEEN TO ENSURE THAT THEY SEE A BROADLY REPRESENTATIVE GROUP OF ORGANISATIONS/INDIVIDUALS.
SELECTING WHO THEY SEE.
THE FAC MAY WELL NEED OUR HELP IN
(E) WILSON THOUGHT THE FAC MIGHT WISH TO ASK HKG FOR WRITTEN EVIDENCE IN DUE COURSE. WE SUGGESTED THAT IT MIGHT BE MORE APPROPRIATE IF ALL REQUESTS FOR OFFICIAL MEMORANDA WERE COORDINATED BY THE FCO, IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH THE HKG.
(F) THE FAC MAY WISH TO SEE SOME HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AS WELL AS YOURSELF. YOU MAY WISH TO GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO
THIS.
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WE NOTE FROM BTC'S TELNO 46 (NOT TO ALL) THAT BTC ENVISAGE LOOKING AFTER ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS. WE EXPECT THAT THIS COULD BE A MAJOR TASK, WHICH MIGHT BE BEYOND BTC'S LIMITED RESOURCES. YOU MAY WISH TO CONSIDER WHETHER YOU SHOULD LOOK AFTER THE
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