TNAG-0546-FCO40-641-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 203

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with the official exchanges and in the light of the Governor's presence in the United Kingdom it is proposed that the Governor should endeavour to conclude the negotiations whilst in London. It is also proposed that he should be joined there by a small team of officials to accompany him when he meets Mr Rodgers on 4th December and to continue, and hopefully reach agreement, on important matters of detail on succeeding days.

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It is proposed that the Information Services should brief the media on the evening of 2nd December that further negotiations are about to take place in an effort to reach agreement. This would prepare the public for the fact that, although Mr Rodgers had not been successful in his negotiations at the end of October, the Hong Kong Government, for its part, had not secured all the concessions which it was seeking. It will then be necessary for the Governor to advise the Executive Council on 9th December of the stage reached. It is recommended that Honourable Members make this a condition for concluding an agreement so as to ensure a fair interval between the resumption of talks by the Governor and the announcement of such an agreement. Thereafter, it would be the intention to make a simultaneous announcement on about 12th December in terms agreed by both the United Kingdom and the Hong Kong Governments when agreement has been concluded.

Residual Work after Agreement

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As and when agreement has been concluded, it will remain for the final terms of the Memorandum of Understanding to be agreed, for the approved works programme for the period of the agreement to be agreed and for the Statement of Works Procedures and the Statement of Financial Procedures to be finalised. So far as possible, this will be done by the team of officials before their return from London.

Advice Sought

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Honourable Members will be asked to advise whether:

(a) Victoria Barracks should be vacated as proposed in

paragraph 8(a) above;

(b) RAF Kai Tak should be vacated as proposed in

paragraph 8(b) above;

(c) the Governor should be advised to insist on the whole

of RAF Kai Tak being evacuated (except for the RHKAAF area), as a condition of agreement;

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