TNAG-0581-FCO40-714-Boundaries-disclaimer-notes-for-maps-and-charts-of-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 17

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Mr Clay

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Defence Department

MI. Janvrin HKIDD)

Reference

Enter a ramba't

BOUNDARY DISCLAIMED NOTE TO BE USED ON MAPS AND CHARTS PRODUCED BY THE DIRECTORATE OF MILITARY SURVEY

1.

2.

You sent me a copy of your minute of 22 April to Mr Parry.

Neither this department nor the Northern Ireland Office, whom I have consulted, have particularly strong views on this matter. There are, I think, two points for us:

(i)

(ii)

nothing should be said or done which would imply that the line of the boundary with the Republic of Ireland is a matter for dispute, which it is not; and

the disclaimer should not give soldiers operating near the border an excuse to cross it into the Republic.

In fact I should have thought that the revised disclaimer in paragraph 2 of your minute was more likely to be misleading to a soldier on patrol near the border than the original disclaimer which clearly implied that the map was an authority with regard to UK sovereign. territories which, I presume, would include Northern Ireland.

3. The answer to my point (ii) above seems to me to be quite simple. Soldiers in action in Northern Ireland could be instructed to observe the boundary shown on their maps whatever the disclaimer says. would no doubt wish to comment on this point and I am therefore sending a copy of this minute to them.

DS10

CODE 18-77

30 April 1976

Copied to:

P Crowther Esq NIO (L)

DB Omand Esq DS10, MOD

MAngel

M Hodge

Republic of Ireland Department

RECEIVED W

REGISTRY N..27

- 3 MAY 1976

DPG 040/518/1

RESTRICTED