TNAG-1163-FCO40-1443-Visits-by-FCO-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 6

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DSR 11C

Cable and Wireless themselves are concerned, the Senior

General Manager and Company Secretary (Mr Olsen) told

me that the link back to the UK was both by satellite

and by submarine cable. A Cable and Wireless computer

determined whether a particular message would be routed

via satellite or via the submarine cable. As to

communications within the control of the Government and

the British Forces in Hong Kong, there were arrangements

for emergency radio links between Government House and

HMS Tamar. These could be supplemented by positioning

special radio equipment mounted in Landrovers in the

compound occupied by Government House. In addition

KAYNARD there were Canard facilities at HMS Tamar. The

conclusion I drew was that there was sufficient variety

for communications to be survivable in most foreseeable

circumstances. This view was also shared by those to

whom I spoke. We shall probably not be able to do

anything better than this unless and until the British

Forces in Hong Kong once again have access to a defence

communications satellite.

3. I discussed Brahms both with the Governor and with

Mr L M Davies (Secretary for Security). I explained

that we recognised that the Brahms equipment was proving

fulness its use and said that we had no current plans to withdraw

it. Mr Davies said that it would help perhaps if the

Hong Kong authorities were to pay for a Brahms set.

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/I replied