TNAG-1329-FCO40-1756-Future-of-Hong-Kong-test-of-the-acceptability-of-the-Joint-D-1984 — Page 85

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FM FCO 071919Z AUG 84

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

No

Pur

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1548 OF 7 AUGUST

AND INFO PRIORITY PEKING

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: ADMINISTRATION:

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

1.

TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY:

MINISTERS HAVE NOW AGREED IN PRINCIPLE, SUBJECT TO FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS, THAT THE MONITORS OF THE TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY SHOULD BE BOTH APPOINTED AND PAID

BY HMG. WE SHALL BE DISCUSSING A BUDGET WITHIN THE OFFICE AND ULTIMATELY WITH THE TREASURY, ON THE BASIS OF FIGURES WHICH YOU

HAVE SUPPLIED. WE SHALL LET YOU KNOW THE OUTCOME.

2. AT PRESENT OUR DRAFT BUDGET INCLUDES FEES, ACCOMMODATION AND SUBSISTENCE, TRAVEL BETWEEN LONDON AND HONG KONG, AND MEDICAL EXPENSES. A FURTHER POSSIBLE HEADING IS LOCAL

OFFICE EXPENDITURE WITHIN HONG HONG ON SECRETARIAL ASSISTANCE, ACCOMMODATION, INTERNAL TRAVEL IN CONNECTION WITH THE DUTIES OF MONITORING TEAM AND STATIONERY. WE WONDER WHETHER THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT COULD CONSIDER COVERING THESE ITEMS. IT WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL IF OFFICE SPACE COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE MONITORS ON HONG KONG GOVERNMENT PREMISES. THEIR CALL ON SECRETARIAL ASSISTANCE WILL, WE IMAGINE, BE IRREGULAR, AND IT WOULD BE HARD TO JUSTIFY THE PROVISION OF A FULL-TIME UK BASED SECRETARY. WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO MAKE AVAILABLE A HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SECRETAIAL, IN ASSISTANT, WITH APPROPRIATE SECURITY CLEAR- ANCE TO WORK FOR THE MONITORS AS THEY REQUIRE? COULD THEY ALSO CALL ON HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TRANSPORT WHEN THEY TRAVEL ROUND THE TERRITORY IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS? WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO MEET THE COST OF THEIR STATIONERY .

AND ANY OTHER OFFICE EXPENSES, SUCH AS PHOTOCOPYING?

3.

WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EARLY REACTION.

YOUNG

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FINANCE D

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