SECRET FM FCO
SECRET
52
047270
TOP COPYADHOAN 4008 Q DIST ? AKC062/1
Redacted under FOI exemption 27(1)
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 305
OF 011735Z FEBRUARY 89
INEO IMMEDIATE MODUK
43
MODUK FOR POLLARD, SEC (0)(C)
YOUR TELNO 308: WITHDRAWAL PLAN: FIRST REVIEW
•
WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR THE HELPFUL ADVICE IN YOUR TELEGRAM.
3. WE HAVE DISCUSSED FURTHER WITH THE MOD THE NATURE OF THE PROPOSED REINFORCEMENT EXERCISE (YOUR PARA 7). THEY ADVISE THAT IT WOULD BE A COMMAND POST EXERCISE RATHER THAN A FORCE TRAINING EXERCISE. THIS MEANS THAT THE EXERCISE WOULD BE ESSENTIALLY AN ADMINISTRATIVE ONE AND WOULD NOT (NOT) INVOLVE THE MOVEMENT OF TROOPS. AS SUCH IT SHOULD BE RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE. BUT WE WOULD STILL NEED TO CONSIDER BRIEFING THE CHINESE IN CASE THEY LEARNT OF THE EXERCISE. THEY MIGHT IN FACT WELCOME IT AS EVIDENCE OF OUR COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING ORDER IN HONG KONG. THE MOD ADVISE THAT NO DECISION NEED BE TAKEN ON THIS YET. GENERAL REACTIONS IN MOD ARE POSITIVE BUT THEY WILL NEED TO CONSIDER IT FURTHER INTERNALLY. THEY WILL CONSULT US AND YOU FURTHER IN DUE COURSE.
WE AND THE MOD ARE CONTENT WITH THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT IN PARA 8 OF YOUR TELEGRAM TO PARA 5(B) OF THE EXCO PAPER.
4.
5.
WE AGREE THAT YOU SHOULD MAKE REFERENCE TO THE REVIEW OF THE GARRISON CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS IN YOUR COVERING EXCO PAPER (PARAS 10 AND 11 OF YOUR TELEGRAM). MOD ARE CONTENT WITH YOUR INTERPRETATION OF QUOTE PRE-1997 UNQUOTE IN PARA 4(IV) OF THE DRAFT PAPER. IF THE GOVERNOR HAS TIME, HE MAY WISH TO DISCUSS
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