CONFIDENTIAL covering SECRET
Рас
a
FROM:
A R Paul
A B
Mr
McStone
Moaul Wils Мобил Bush's Agreed: Alegrament 63
Сирати
HONG KONG: RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
DATE:
Hong Kong Department
17 May 1990
CC:
Mr McLaren
HK B
EVER
177 / 1
TRY
1 JUN 1990
245/
A 1. I submit a draft reply to the Governor's telegram no 1559, which
takes account of his subsequent telno 1598. The draft is a revised version of a draft which the MOD have provided us, following our discussions with them (copy attached for reference).
C
Ꭰ
2.
Both we and the MOD take the view that the modifications
proposed by the CBF go slightly too far, even with the general
caveats proposed by the Governor, and that they would entail a real
and unnecessary risk of unintentional escalation. The attached
draft telegram is, I hope, self explanatory. But in essence the
changes to the CBF's proposals which the MOD wish to make are:
agree that arms may be carried with live ammunition but only for non automatic weapons;
continue to resist the idea of allowing RN vessels to "ride off";
agree that non automatic weapons may be displayed, but not
pointed at potentially hostile forces the relevant details are
attached
3.
MOD's proposals seem sensible to me and I think we should
support them.
If the Governor and the CBF are content, we will need
to secure the approval of Ministers.
ALAADV
ARPaul
CONFIDENTIAL covering SECRET
A R Paul