TNAG-0377-FCO40-423-Defence-and-Oversea-Policy-Committee-review-of-UK-relations--1973 — Page 5

CONFIDENTIAL

22

Mr Youde

Pob.

Secretung

7

Affenved

HKLOD. Now to be replaced by

BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH HONG KONG

State

ма

by

a ninte

Sir J. It unt, I gather

Phatt

39

1. The Cabinet Committee of Officials which was set up to

examine our bilateral relations with Hong Kong has now considered

(out of committee) a paper for the Defence and Oversea Policy

Committee. This is in accordance with the Prime Minister's

instructions that the opportunity should be taken to resolve as

many as possible of these problems before his visit to Hong Kong.

2. Unfortunately this is not a good moment to draw up a balance

sheet. The situation on many of these questions, especially the

death penalty and mass transit, is still fluid, and will change

before the Prime Minister's visit. Nevertheless the paper will

have to be typed tomorrow 30 November if it is to be considered

Office

by DOP, as the Cabinet require, on 5 December.

3. I submit the agreed draft accordingly, with contributions

from the Treasury, Home Office and DTI. There may have to be

last minute changes, for example if we receive the Governor's

decision on the case of Lam Po. If so they will be agreed with

Private Office. Otherwise they will have to be covered in the

Secretary of State's brief for the meeting•

29 November 1973

CC

Sir D Watson

PS to Mr Royle

Acsad

A C Stuart

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.

The proposal that the BDPI should look

CONFIDENTIAL