TNAG-0367-FCO40-413-Visits-of-UK-Members-of-Parliament-to-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 70

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MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

FINANCE DIVISION 1(NAVAL)

Main Building Whitehall London SW1A 2HB

Telephone 01-930 7022 ext

129

1) Enter 2) Copies to HK HOD (Mr Crowson)

FED. (im Davies)

3)

in Hamson -losen (Div)

The Commander, British Forces.

HONG KONG

RECEIVED IN REGITRY.2

11 OCT 973

Pu 2/2

Wally 1/10

Please reply to Ministry of Defence

Your reference

Our reference

N/F1/5/71

Date

RECEVED IN

KIGISTRY No.51

10 October 1973. 12 OCT 1973

1KK3/548/2

Sir

SELECT COMMITTEE ON EXPENDITURE

TO CHINA CF R BERNARD CONLAN, MF

DEFENCE AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SUB-COMMITTEE VISIT

1. I am directed to inform you that a delegation from the Britisn-Chinese Parliamentary Group which is to visit China during the first part of November 1973 will include lír Bernard Conlan, who is a member of the Defence and External Affairs Sub-Committee of the Select Committee on Expenditure. The composition of the dele- gation and the timetable for its journey to and from Hong Kong en route to and from China are shown in Annex A to this letter. A pen picture of Mr Conlan is attached as Annex B.

2.

It is understood to be unlikely that Mr Conlan will pursue any Expenditure Committee activity whilst he is in Hong Kong. Should this not prove to be the case, I am to request that any unclassified information on Defence matters which might be sought formally or informally should be provided with circumspection. If the cir- cumstances allow, written material should be cent to this office for forwarding to Mr Conlan through the Clerk to his Sub-Committee. The Sub-Committee on Defence and External Affairs may receive information classified up to and including SECRET when this is relevant to its enquiries but I am to request that no classified information be imparted direct to Mr Conlan: should it be necessary, Ir Conlan should be informed that the information he requires, being classified, will be passed to this office for handling under the special arrangements agreed between the House of Commons and this Ministry.

3. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is acquainting its representatives in Hong Kong and Peking of details of the arrangements for the delegation's visit.

-

ANNEX A

J

I

am,

Sir

Your obedient Servant,

enmiel

(ARH BENNING)

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE LIAISON

OFFICER TO THE EXPENDITURE COMMITTEE

British-Chinese Parliamentary Group delegation

arrangements

B Pen-picture of Mr Bernard Conlan, MP

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composition and travel

1 x