TNAG-0525-FCO40-620-Visit-of-UK-Members-of-Parliament-(Defence-and-External-Affa-1975 — Page 78

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PUL 3/2/9

Chief Clerk

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DEFENCE AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SUB-COMMITTEE (DEASC) VISIT TO HONG KONG, CYPRUS AND ATHENS

1. I met Dougles Millar, Clerk to this Sub-Committee, at the House of Commons today to talk about likely lines of questioning by DEASC at their evidence session with FCC on Tuesday 9 December. While he could not, of course, guarantee that questions would be asked on the topics he would mention, he knew we would wish to know the lines of the Sub-Committee's thoughts.

Hong Kong

2. While the subjects he mentioned on Hong Kong would not appear strictly to relate to DEASC's Order of Reference,

Mr Millar thinks that as most of them do in some way relate to UK Government expenditure the Sub-Committee could legitimately raise them. All of the following points were made at

the de-briefing session in Hong Kong; so they may or may not be raised again. The Sub-Committee were interested in -

a.

b.

C.

Border Policy

Was it morally right that would-be immigrants were sent back to China? (DEASC's interest in this policy relates to UK cost of maintaining British troops on the border.)

Defence

including the proportion and what is IMG's share?

i. What percentage of the Hong Kong Government budget is spent on defence spent on the Police force Is the proportion more or less than is spent by HMG on Britain's own defence?

ii. If Hong Kong Government were to pay a larger percentage than they do at the presert time, say more than 50%, would this mean that uney would demand full control of their defence plans and operations?

Constitutional position

i.

The position of Hong Kong. Kowloon and the New Territories. What of the future; will they stand or fall togethe r? What is the significance of 1997 when cur lease of Hong Kong expires? (DEASC's interest is ir HMG's continuing financial commitments.)