TNAG-1431-FCO40-1914-Sensitivity-review-of-FCO-records-on-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 125

Mr

POVI,

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference..

4

RELEASE OF CABINET RECORDS : HONG KONG

A

B

1. Please see Hong Kong telno 28 (copy attached). of the Cabinet minutes 15 April 1954 which reveal that:

I attach

a copy

a)

The defence committee had agreed to reduce the Hong Kong garrison.

b)

Sir Winston Churchill agreed that it would be best not to inform the Governor of this decision, because it was so sensitive.

2. I spoke to Colin Smith in the Cabinet Office who informed me that Cabinet papers are released on the advice of their reviewers. However, if the reviewers are in doubt about the sensitivity of a document, they pass it to the appropriate Government department for advice. In this case, they decided to refer the minutes of 15 April to Miss Veitch of the FCO Sensitivity Review Unit. It is her responsibility to consult (if necessary) individual FCO departments.

3. We need to speak to Miss Veitch about these minutes and ask her to refer any further papers containing important policy decisions about Hong Kong to the

the Department before authorising their release. Perhaps you or Mr Hum would like to do this?

4.

Mr Smith asked if we would let him have a letter drawing his attention to the fact that other documents due for release in coming years may be sensitive and should therefore be referred to the FCO. I attach a draft from myself to Mr Smith, copied to Miss Veitch. I also attach a draft telegram to Hong Kong in reply to their telegram number 28.

8 January 1985

Jona Am.

JA Klowak

Hong Kong Department

CODE 18-77

나

HKK U

RECEIVEL

INCL

HIS

CONFIDENTIAL