нка aili
SECRET
Mr Ricketts,
HKD
然
FROM: CO Hum
DATE: 14 September 1992
CC:
PS
PS/Mr Goodlad
PS/PUS
Mr Lever
Mr Donnelly, NPDD Ms Brooks, Legal
Advisers
16
HONG KONG: COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES (CBF) AND EXCO
15
1. I called on the Ministry of Defence this afternoon to run over the background to the Secretary of State's minute of 10- September to the Defence Secretary about the departure of CBF from ExCo. In the event the Under Secretary responsible was otherwise engaged, and I spoke to Mr Bowen, Head of Sec O(C).
2. I ran through the arguments. Mr Bowen said that MOD officials remained unconvinced by the arguments. But they accepted that the Governor was making a political case for a political decision. They had discussed the matter with CBF when he was in London last week. CBF had been persuaded by Mr Patten to acquiesce in his departure from ExCo; he felt that he had an excellent relationship with the Governor, which he did not want to disturb; and so he was ready to go. In the light of this officials were recommending to the Defence Secretary that he should agree to what was proposed. Both civilians and the military (up to CDS) were now on board. It was likely therefore that we would have a positive response from the Defence Secretary by the end of the week.
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14/9
SECRET
Coltun
CO Hum