(1) advice given to Ministers or advice about Cabinet Committees or
decisions;
(2) advice by the Law Officers;
(3)
information about the private affairs of individuals or
institutions which has been received by Ministers or officials in
confidence;
(4) questions on matters of political controversy;
(5) sensitive information of a commercial or economic nature
(unless the Chancellor of the Exchequer agrees);
(6) matters which are, or may become, the subject of sensitive negotiations with governments or other bodies (unless the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary agrees); and
(7) cases where decisions of a quasi judicial nature by Ministers
are sub judice.
26. The "international relations" exception is further expanded in
paragraph 37 of the Memorandum, as follows:-
27.
"Negotiations with other governments are normally conducted in
strict confidence. Officials should take care in discussing or
giving written evidence on matters which may affect relations
with other governments or bodies
or relations between
British officials and those of other governments".
The Memorandum also contains detailed rules about the treatment
of evidence, including the publication of confidential information, and the way in which Committee Reports should be handled by
Departments.
28.
Conclusion
The immediate question to be answered is whether the Governor of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Government officials can be obliged to give
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