PUL 3/2/9
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Thom (A & SD)
Mr Burden (Claims Dept)
Mr Hellings (Consular Dept)
Mr O'Keeffe (HK&IOD)
Mr Goodison (SED)
Mr Cloake (TR&ED)
Copy to each
DEFENCE & EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SUB-COMMITTEE (DEASC): ORAL EVIDENCE SESSION TUESDAY 9 DECEMBER
1. I had my second discussion with Mr Millar, Clerk to the DEASC, this afternoon in an attempt to discover more precisely the line of questioning likely to be taken at the oral evidence session with FCO on Tuesday 9 December. Mr Millar had com- pleted his brief on questioning for his Sub-Committee and it followed very closely the subjects as listed in my minute of 1 December. He did comment, however, that the subjects he had previously mentioned to me were those in which Members of the Sub-Committee had expressed an interest, not only during informal question sessions abroad, but also at informal background/political briefings. The Sub-Committee might not, in fact, ask them again or even seek futher information on them; but they might do so in order to get FCO's answers into the record.
2. Hong Kong
I told Mr Millar that it appeared to me that some of the questions he suggested as likely to be posed were outside his Sub-Committce's terms of reference; they were touching on political matters, not on those relating to defence cr expenditure. His reaction was that as HMG have a continuing financial interest in Hong Kong, any questions concerning Hong Kong are admissible. I told him I could not see this, particularly with regard to questions on the Constitutional position of Hong Kong and the composition of the Legislative Council. Mr Millar said he knew that FCO officials would be adroit enough to handle those questions which they felt were not of concern to his Sub-Committee; they should answer as they thought fit. But it seems likely that the following questions will be asked:
(a) Is the future of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon
and the New Territories entirely bound up
together?
1
CONFIDENTIAL
/(b) Are
E
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