Private Secretary
COVERING SECRET
Sertag of State
56
FROM:
PS/Lord Caithness
DATE:
8 May 1991
CC:
PS/PUS
Sir J Coles
Mr Burns
Mr Paul, HKD
HONG KONG: ROYAL NAVAL PRESENCE AFLOAT
HKB 063/1
1. Lord Caithness has seen Mr Burns' submission of 7 May (below) and has commented as follows:
56
"I agree with this. We must be careful about the 'defence' of Hong Kong. The only attack could be from China and, if it came, we could do nothing about it. should stress that this is support and back up to the Hong Kong marine police and as we approach 1997 it is right that Hong Kong people assume more responsibility for their own affairs. The Secretary of State might like to know that one of the Hong Kong vessels is involved in the current Five Power Defence Agreement exercise off Malaysia. Nothing to do with Hong Kong, yet 65% of the costs are paid for by Hong Kong.
Rut It Tim
Peter Tibber
PS/Lord Caithness
We
8 May 1991
COVERING SECRET
Mrstone
10%