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114163 MDHIAN 6418
HKB 011/12
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FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3855
TOP COPY
OF 161002Z DECEMBER 91 Q DIST?
PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
14
YRTELNO 2155: CBF ON EXCO
1. THE MOD'S LETTER DOES NOT APPEAR TO RAISE ANY NEW POINTS. INDEED, IT SUGGESTS CONSIDERABLE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF EXCO AND THE INCREASINGLY ANOMALOUS POSITION OF CBF AS A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL.
2. TO PICK UP A FEW POINTS FROM THE LETTER:
(A) MY INTENTION IS OF COURSE TO ASK CBF TO ATTEND EXCO WHENEVER ANY MAJOR SECURITY PROBLEM IS DISCUSSED, WHETHER THIS ARISES FROM POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INSTABILITY OR THE PURELY MILITARY SPHERE. SECURITY ISSUES AS SUCH ARE NOT HOWEVER NORMALLY DISCUSSED AT EXCO, BUT AT THE GOVERNOR'S SECURITY COMMITTEE.
(B) MEETINGS OF THE GOVERNOR'S SECURITY COMMITTEE DO NOT OCCUR IRREGULARLY. THEY TAKE PLACE MONTHLY, ALTHOUGH MEETINGS ARE OCCASIONALLY CANCELLED IF THERE IS NO PARTICULAR BUSINESS TO DISCUSS. EXTRA MEETINGS CAN ALSO BE CALLED IF NECESSARY. AS CORRECTLY POINTED OUT IN THE PUS' LETTER, I WOULD CONTINUE TO INVITE CBF TO ATTEND MY REGULAR WEEKLY MEETING WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS. HE WOULD ALSO HAVE DIRECT ACCESS TO ME WHENEVER HE NEEDED IT.
(C) IF IT WAS HELPFUL, I WOULD HAVE NO OBJECTION TO CBF CONTINUING TO RECEIVE ALL EXCO PAPERS, ALTHOUGH AS YOU AND HE (BUT POSSIBLY NOT MOD) KNOW, MANY OF THESE REFER TO VERY ROUTINE MATTERS LIKE DEPORTATIONS, LAND GRANTS AND MINOR LEGISLATION, WHILE OTHERS DEAL WITH MORE SUBSTANTIVE BUT ENTIRELY DOMESTIC POLICY MATTERS.
(D) I DO NOT SEE ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN THE PROPOSAL TO REMOVE CBF FROM EXCO AND THE 'STRONGER FOR LONGER' APPROACH IN THE GARRISON WITHDRAWAL PLAN. THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD CERTAINLY NOT SEE THE CBF'S WITHDRAWAL AS SIGNIFYING ANY DISTANCING OF THE
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