SECRET FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 25
OF 08123OZ JANUARY 92
SECRET
N
TOP COPY Q DIST?
162326
MDLOAN 3669
HKA 01/1
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM RICKETTS, HKD
YOUR TELNO 50: CBF ON EXCO
BHKS 011/12 (1991)
1. IN THE LIGHT OF THE POINTS IN YOUR TELNO 3855, THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS RECENTLY MINUTED TO THE DEFENCE SECRETARY FAX) PROPOSING THAT THE NEW CBF SHOULD NOT BE ON EXCO. WOULD BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO CLAW THIS BACK NOW.
(COPY BY
IT
2. I SUGGEST THAT WE SHOULD AWAIT A RESPONSE FROM THE DEFENCE SECRETARY BEFORE TAKING FURTHER THE POINTS IN TUR. IF THE DEFENCE SECRETARY ACCEPTS THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S CASE, WE WILL THEN HAVE SECURED THE PRINCIPLE THAT FUTURE CBFS SHOULD NOT BE ON EXCO. WE CAN AT THAT STAGE PUT TO MINISTERS YOUR PROPOSAL THAT THE NEW CBF SHOULD TAKE UP HIS SEAT ON EXCO AND THAT IT WOULD BE FOR YOUR SUCCESSOR TO DECIDE WHETHER AND AT WHAT POINT THE THEN CBF SHOULD STAND DOWN FROM EXCO.
IF THE MOD STICK TO THEIR GUNS IN OPPOSING THE REMOVAL OF CBF FROM EXCO, YOUR PROPOSAL MIGHT THEN BE OFFERED AS A COMPROMISE.
3.
4.
IT MIGHT IN ANY CASE BE WORTH YOUR MENTIONING THIS SUBJECT
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON 21 JANUARY. IF YOU AGREE, WE WILL INCLUDE THE POINT ON HIS CHECK LIST.
HURD
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
17
LIMITED
HKD
तवतल
DISTRIBUTION
17
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
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