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C
remove the Commander British Forces from the Executive
Council when the current incumbent is posted in spring 1992. There are two main reasons: (i) that it is looking increasingly anachronistic in the more politically charged environment in Hong Kong to have a British General on the
innermost policy Council of HKG; and (ii) that it will make
it all the easier for the PLA to insist on the same
treatment in 1997. Sir M Quinlan has now replied, having
consulted the Defence Secretary, and has urged us to ask the Governor to reconsider the proposal. The main grounds put forward for reconsideration are:
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removing the CBF from ExCo now is likely to have scant
impact on whether or not the Chinese feel the need to have
the Commander of the local PLA contingent on ExCo. The Chinese will do what they want irrespective of whether or
not CBF is on ExCo.
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The MOD are concerned that if this move were to take place
the CBF would no longer be sufficiently attuned to political and economic developments in Hong Kong and would be unable
first hand to advise ExCo on what the Garrison could or
could not do.
D
4. We have consulted the Governor again, in the light of
Sir M Quinlan's (predictable) letter. The Governor has
offered some further reassurance to the MOD:
he would ask CBF to attend ExCo whenever any major
security problem arose; and
he is willing for CBF to get all ExCo papers
does not see the need.
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although he
He has provided further political arguments as to why it
would be best to make this move now rather than later.
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