TNAG-1379-FCO40-1827-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 143

CONFIDENTIAL

1

[IF ASKED ABOUT APPOINTMENT OF A SUCCESSOR]

This

is a matter for the Governor.

Will agreement be registered at the UN?

10.

Yes. We shall register it at the UN in accordance with normal

international practice.

Pensions

11.

The agreement provides that the SAR Government will pay all

pensions, gratuities and other benefits due to public servants and

dependants including those who have retired before 1 July 1997.

Conscription into PLA

12. The agreement does not refer to the question of conscription.

This is not to say that there will be conscription. Chinese

Government have not suggested that there would be. With one billion

Chinese people can see little need to conscript from 5 million Hong

Kong people.

Stationing of PLA in Hong Kong after 1997?

13. Clear the PRC will be responsible

for

troops be stationed there will be a matter

Agreement makes clear that

Government.

responsibility

SAR's

SAR's defence. Whether

for the Central People's

public order will be

that troops stationed in

of the SAR Government and

SAR for the purpose of defence will not interfere in its internal

affairs.

Future of the Gurkhas

14. The government has no plans to run down or disband the Brigade

of Gurkhas.

Future of the Garrison

15. Do not anticipate any material changes for the time being, but

we do, of course, keep the size of all our deployments under

continuous review. HMG will remain responsible for the defence and

internal security of Hong Kong until 1997 and we will retain an

appropriate garrison for this purpose.

CONFIDENTIAL