TNAG-0525-FCO40-620-Visit-of-UK-Members-of-Parliament-(Defence-and-External-Affa-1975 — Page 252

CONFIDENTIAL

GR 240

CY ER/CAT A

Ember

a

PA

39)

(Pu 3/2/7)

317

*

FM FCO 11237Z

(53)

CONFIDENTIAL

TO ROUTINE HONG KONG TEL NO 514 OF 1 JULY.

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR

VISIT OF THE DEFENCE AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SUB-COMMITTEE.

39

1. THE FIRST SENTENCE OF PARAGRAPH 4 OF THE MOD'S TELEGRAM OF 26

JUNE TO THE CBF REFLECTED THE FACT THAT THE COMMITTEE DID NOT INTEND TO BRING A SHORTHAND WRITER. BUT THEY ARE NOW CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF TAKING SOME FORMAL EVIDENCE AND THEY HAVE ASKED

IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO OBTAIN A SHORTHAND WRITER LOCALLY. WE

HAVE REPLIED THAT OUR ONE UK-BASED SECRETARY IN THE TRADE

COMMISSION DOES NOT HAVE REQUISITE SKILLS, ADDING THE ASSUMPTION THAT, FOR SECURITY REASONS, THERE IS NO QUESTION OF OUR BEING ASKED TO APPROACH LOCAL COMMERCIAL AGENCIES. (ORAL EVIDENCE SESSIONS MAY, WITH THIS COMMITTEE, TOUCH ON MATTERS UP TO AND INCLUDING SECRET)

2. WE WONDER HOWEVER WHETHER THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EMPLOYS STAFF CAPABLE OF TAKING VERBATIM EVIDENCE BY SHORTHAND OR BY PALANTYPE MACHINE FOR UP TO TWO HOURS AT A STRETCH (IT IS OF COURSE A HIGHLY SKILLED, SPECIALISED JOB) AND, IF SO, WHETHER YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO CONSIDER AN OFFICIAL REQUEST FROM THE COMMITTEE FOR THE LOAN

OF SUCH A PERSON FOR THE PERIOD OF THEIR STAY.

3. APART FROM CONSIDERING THE PRESENTATIONAL ASPECTS OF SUCH

A REQUEST, THE SECURITY ASPECT WOULD ALSO NEED SERIOUS CONSIDERATION BY THE COMMITTEE AND YOUR VIEWS ON THIS WOULD BE WELCOME,

4. THE MOD ARE CONSIDERING SEPARATELY WHETHER THE SERVICES ESTABLISHMENT CAN BE ASKED TO HELP OUT. YOU MAY WISH TO DISCUSS THIS WITH CBF: SUBJECT TO YOUR JOINT VIEWS WE WOULD HOPE TO STEER

THE COMMITTEE FIRMLY AWAY FROM THE WHOLE IDEA.

CALLAGHAN

FILES

Pccu

HKIDD

DEFENCE D MR MALLE MR THOMSON MR HAWLEY

:

COPIES TO:

мог

MAJOR BG JOHNSON 156 MOI: MA V BENHAM 71 (N) MOD

CONFIDENTIAL