TNAG-0705-FCO40-870-Inspection-of-Dependent-Territories-1978 — Page 3

CODE 18-77

Mr Winchester

RESTRICTED

Security Department

LAST PAPER

INSPECTION OF DEPENDENT TERRITORIES

Reference XN. 414/1

Mhe. See all ca

Mr. Hall

This

or

seems

22

I agree.

r cursesplend

t is something I think

have to becurity Dept

Cen

+

the Ingrectors to work out.

Er

I have only recently seen a circular letter which Mr Quantrill of Hong Kong and General Department sent to Governors on 2 August informing them that Dependent Territories will henceforth be inspected as a matter of course. I attach a copy for ease of reference.

2.

In recent inspections of Dependent Territories your Department has called for reports on Security and I assume that you will always wish us to cover the subject.

It would, therefore, seem to be a good idea to put Governors on notice that Inspectors will be asked to cover Security and, if you agree, you may wish to consider how this might best be done. So far as Governor's offices and DS staff are concerned, the matter is probably straightforward enough (except perhaps where the Governor is not a DS man). What seems to me the basis of my experience in the Falklands to be more difficult is the extent, if any, to which we have any responsibility for Security in the Secretariats which are under the control of the government of the territory. I recognise that there can be many susceptibilities involved in this area, but I do not see how we can completely ignore offices which are provided with classified FCO material including Visa Warning Lists.

on

3. One possibility which you might wish to consider is to invite the Governors themselves to produce reports on Security in the local Government offices which could then be discussed with our Inspectors on arrival. This would require the preparation of a simple questionnaire which would be sent to Governors with the other pre-inspection material sent out from the Inspectorate.

HKA 414/1

LAST

RECEIVED IN BOUJINY 10. 51

REF

13

15 JAN 1979

DESK OFFICER

NFY:

REF

INDEX

19 December 1978

CC:

Mr Quantrill HK&GD

20/12

RESTRICTED

بع

JH Potter

Inspectorate

CG 743 233-5585