SECRET UK EYES A LOCSEN
we could or could not do. We should give support to the police, but Ministers would find it difficult to endorse the running or guarding of camps. On the progress of the Withdrawal Plan, AUS (C) stated that the first battalion was scheduled to withdraw next year, and that an official decision would be needed very soon. We had to notify the Chinese and he hoped there would be no difficulties there. Finally there was the issue of the Patrol Craft. This was a very important matter and it was likely that a letter would be written by SofS to the Foreign Secretary alerting him to the state of affairs following the recent meeting with HKG officials.
ITEM 2 - MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
13. The Minutes of the previous meeting were passed as a true record.
14. The only item under Matters Arising which was not reflected in the current agenda concerned Hong Kong CPX plans for 1991, and ACOS J3 gave a short update. He explained that BFHK had held an in-house IS exercise recently, and that there would be a HKG exercise involving the police (Ex WRANGLER, 25 Nov-02 Dec) in November 91. HKG would be playing at Government Security level, and BFHK were keen to have a response cell in the MOD JOC just for 2 or 3 days. AUS (C) reinforced this plea and emphasised the desirability of FCO participation, which Hd HK Dept FCO noted and agreed to in principle.
ITEM 3 REPORT ON MATTERS ARISING FROM 12 JUL 90 MEETING
ITEM 3A
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HONG KONG PATROL CRAFT
15.
The Chairman stated that the issues had already been well aired, and there was no point in going over them again. However, a sitrep from the MOD would be useful and he asked Hd Sec(0) (C) to give the Committee an update.
16. Mr Hatfield then explained the situation following the discussions that had taken place the week before with HKG. To summarise, some progress had been made in the talks,
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