TNAG-1154-FCO40-1434-Visits-by-Members-of-Parliament-(MPs)-to-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 141

HKK

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Mr Donald

рожала

Many

thats

ADA 1976

16/6

RESTRICTED

ORAL BRIEFING FOR THE SELECT COMMITTE ON DEFENCE :

HONG KONG : 15.00 HOURS, WEDNESDAY 16 JUNE 1982

1.

wt: Amill

flm 1716

The House of Commons Select Committee on Defence are to visit Washington, Tokyo and Hong Kong between 28 June and 13 July 1982.

2.

The main purpose of their visit to Hong Kong (8-13 July) is to examine the current and likely future roles of British forces, the conditions of British Servicemen and the Defence Costs Agreement (DCA). Programme arrangements are in the hands of the MOD and CBF Hong Kong, but it is important that the Committee receive a thorough background briefing from the FCO beforehand on more general topics, in particular on the sensitive question of the future of Hong Kong.

3. Throughout their tour the Committee will be 'taking evidence'. They may wish to publish a report on their findings in due course. The taking of formal evidence in Hong Kong will be confined to the British forces. Records of other discussions may also be taken and matters noted published in any report, but in this case the Committee would seek to clear the desirability of publication and the accuracy of the record with us in advance. This has been explained to Hong Kong.

4.

A attached

B.

Pages

2+3

C(57

attached

D

E attached

5.

I attach:

a) a set of briefing notes;

b) a list of those members expected to take part in the

Hong Kong leg;

:) the Committee's provisional programme in Hong Kong;

d) the Report by the Defence and External Affairs Sub-

Committee which visited Hong Kong in 1975, and FCO and MOD observations thereon;

e) the department's General Brief on Hong Kong (copies

have been distributed to the Committee members going to Hong Kong).

The MOD are providing written briefing of their own, but no oral briefing. They will concentrate mainly on the British forces, their conditions of service, accommodation, administration, etc.

6.

We will arrange for a map to be available for the briefing.

14 June 1982

Brin

R D Clift

Hong Kong and General Department

cc FED (with attached A only)

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