BY BAG
布政司署
香港下亞瓦里道
*** OUR REF.: (59) in SCR 1/551/63
CONFIDENTIAL
19
Security Branch
GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT
LOWER ALBERT ROAD
HONG KONG
*** YOUr Ref.:
Arms Control & Disarmament Department Foreign and Commonwealth Office
..
Dear Deparmur
22 March 1979
1) Cary to Mr. Pather CTB del.
HKGD
Mr. Dew PUSD W. Verey 1511 MOD
2) Mr. Mallaby o...
3) Miss Owen May
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
I see state of play on replies pse.
por
andz.e
I refer to your telegrams numbers 51 and 52 to St Helena and others, and to number 3 Saving to Hong Kong.
2.
I should say straight away that as far as Hong Kong is concerned there would be overwhelming political and security objections to the proposals envisaged, in respect of both the National Seismic Stations (NSS) and the On-Site Inspections (OSI). But I will deal first with the specific issues you raised, using the headings and answering the questions listed in the respective paragraphs 6 of the first two referenced telegrams.
NSS
(You said in your Savings telegram number 3 that, quite apart from the political difficulties with China, you saw no seismic case for a NSS in Hong Kong).
(a) There would appear to be no basic constitutional problem in view of Hong Kong's status as a Dependent Territory, although the Chinese Government, if they were sufficiently disturbed, might conceivably advance constitutional arguments on the grounds that the cession and leasing of Hong Kong's territory were the result of unequal treaties.
(b) The political difficulties would be immense (see concluding
paragraphs).
(c) Prima facie, finding a site for HMG to purchase or lease would
not present major difficulties.
(d) Nor would logistics be a problem.
(e) As regards security, the physical security of the site could be
ensured, although it would mean a substantial continuing commit- ment. It would, however, be very difficult to prevent covert
HKG.083/1
30 MAR 17
No vay nyo my
3.
CONFIDENTIAL.
/leakages....
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