SECRET
RECEIVE
DESK C
19 November 1993
BY FAX
2
STRY
Vlm
C6 DEC 1993
STRY on Taken
Mr Momis Mom's
To be awave of HK's
Foreign & Commonwealth
Office
relucrunce to involve way London SWIA 2AH
amanter
work deat
International implications.
270 2582
Dr Wyrer
ep
par
051/2
J M Shannon Esq
Security Branch
Government Secretariat Government House
Lower Albert Road
HONG KONG
7 Shonum,
I take it Mr Freeman chow no hub by phon
んがい
EXERCISE VULGATE
raited His will
Mr Peirce in Beking.
не hook не райс about for being consulted
1. Thank you for your letter of 18 November to John Gardner.
2.
I am grateful to you for responding to the questions we raised. Your letter goes a long way to explain why you are organising the exercise along the lines you describe. I recognise why it is so important to test the Hong Kong government's own capacity to handle a terrorist incident in as autonomous a manner as possible. Of course, as you acknowledge, prior to 1997 we have a direct interest in the response to any such incidents in Hong Kong. I am sorry that we were not aware of the exercise at an earlier planning stage. It might have been possible then to identify ways in which we could have assisted both with the scenario (especially the international angle) and by sending an experienced observer from the police. Given that the exercise is next week, I am not sure that we shall be able to find an appropriate observer, and it is unfortunate also that you would not in any case be able to fund one. If it is possible to identify an individual and finance the trip, we shall let you know as soon as possible.
3. I am a little surprised that it is not possible to let us have a copy of the exercise scenario. Nonetheless, it would be helpful, as proposed, to see a synopsis of the scenario immediately before the exercise. We should also, of course, be happy to receive the outline scenario as you propose.
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1.1911.ev
SECRET