TNAG-0694-FCO40-844-Inspection-of-Hong-Kong-Department-1977 — Page 79

Registry No.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret,

Secret.

Confidential.

Restricted.

Unclassified.

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

[To be cleared by

Governor]

DRAFT PRESS RELEASE

Type 1 +

From

To:-

Telephone No. Ext.

Department

DRAFT PRESS RELEASE TO ISSUE FROM CONVENT

ON

(Day) (Date) (Month)

REORGANISATION OF DEPARTMENTAL REPONSIBILITIES

WITHIN THE FCO

DSR 11

"As part of the continuing inspection system within the Foreign and

Commonwealth Office, in future the work of the Office affecting

Gibraltar, both internal and external, tere will be handled by

Southern European Department and responsibility for aid matters

will transfer to/Ministry of Overseas Development. The administration

L

of aid will be handled directly between the ODM and the Gibraltar

Government and this should result in more rapid processing of aid

proposals. Staff from the Gibraltar Section of the present department"

will transfer to Southern European Department and will ensure continuity

and the maintenance of the close relationship between officials of the

FCO and those of the Gibraltar Government."

Points for defensive use

The change is purely administrative and organisational and carries

no political implications whatever.

Ministerial responsibilities within the FCO are not affected by

this organisational change. The Minister of State, Mr Judd, (as

Mr Hattersley and Dr Owen before him) is responsible for both the

internal and external affairs of Gibraltar.

D 107991 500,000 7/76 904 953