364
PS/M Ennals
COIEDRIPTIAL
Cohail &
L'OREIGN AFFAIRS DEBATE:
1.
2.
MONDAY 10 NOVEMBER
Your minute of 4 November refers.
There are two topics on HKIOD's side which may be raised
in the debate: Hong Kong defence costs negotiations and Diego Garcia (so far as concerns the removal of the former copra plantation workers).
HONG KONG DEFENCE COSTS NEGOTIATIONS
3.
This subject may be raised in view of the press reports
about ir Rodgers negotiations in Hong Kong last week. I attach a background note provided by the Ministry of Defence. They are also going to supply a Line to Take on the negotiations as a whole but it has still to be cleared by Mr Rodgers himself (I imagine that Mr Rodgers may in any case wish to have a word with Mr Ennals if this subject comes up during the course of the Debate). I will let you have the LOD's contribution as
soon as possible. Leanwhile I attach a Line to Take on two
points which may crop up. The first - the role of the Governor in the negotiations which Mr Rodgers conducted in Hong Kong last
week is known to have been raised by Mr John Roper MP at an
informal meeting this week of the Defence and Extemal Affairs Sub-Committee, which is visiting Hong Kong later this month, and could come up again. The second point the release of MOD
lands to the Hong Kong Government is one on which Lord Goronwy- Roberts thinks that we may be open to Parliamentary criticism, though, if so,probably at a later stage. I have cleared the proposed form of words on these two points with the MOD. The
formula concerning the role of the Governor is one which has
been cleared with Sir Murray MacLehose in another context.
DIEGO GARCIA
-
4. I attach our standard background note, though Mr Ennals
is familiar with the issue of the removal of the contract
workers from Diego Garcia in view of the Parliamentary questions
and MPs letters about it. I attach a Line to Take on the
/point
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.