TNAG-1355-FCO40-1796-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 224

RJEANT

HOUSE

OF

AT

ARMS

COMMONS

CONFIDENTIAL

Dear My Keep

HKK

}

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

22 JUL 1985

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

HOUSE OF COMMONS

LONDON SW1A 0AA

PA

REGISTRY

Action Taken

8th July, 1985.

che

1351

I write with reference to Li Wing's letter to you dated 21st June and which you passed to me for comment last week on the subject of rules for Hong Kong's Legislative Council Chamber. It is difficult to put so much detail on paper for him, but I will do my best!

I start with the subject of Security as this is clearly the main problem for him because it would seem that any rules will have to follow from the overall policy they decide on. Security in the Palace of Westminster is a difficult subject because of course the two Houses have to share control. Although the Lord Chancellor and the Speaker are ultimately responsible for security here, there is a Joint Select Committee on security which formulates overall policy and which advises the Lord Chancellor and the Speaker accordingly. In so far as the House of Commons is concerned, and I will not refer to the Lords again, the Serjeant at Arms is responsible to the Speaker for day to day security matters and indeed he attends all meetings of the Joint Committee. Unless there is an emergency the Joint Committee normally sits on average about four times a year, I estimate.

We have here a large detachment of metropolitan police who look after the security of the building, under the Head of Security who is a Chief Superintendent. Although he reports to the Metropolitan Commissioner of Police, he is responsible to the Serjeant at Arms for the implementation of the overall Security Policy and we liaise on a daily basis with him.

The Security Force are responsible for the security of both the perimeter and of the inside of the building, with the notable exception of the Chamber (including the Division Lobbies and the Galleries). This is an historical situation because Members of Parliament have never liked or allowed, uniformed security officers to be inside or in sight of the Debating Chamber; although plain clothes police officers are now always on duty in the Galleries when the House is sitting.

We have a very sophisticated new perimeter security system, including electronic alarms and video cameras connected to a highly automated security control centre which is manned by the police and there is for instance a link to the Vehicle Registration Centre (DVLC) at Swansea.

The

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