TNAG-1475-FCO40-2006-Visits-by-MPs-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 16

FROM THE RT HON SIR HUMPHREY ATKINS KCMG MAY Ther

29/12

Akeeter

Fine Jaali-

COMMITTEE OFFICE

HOUSE OF COMMONS

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PS

Sear

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LONDON SWIA OAA

01-219

01-219 3000

(Direct Line) (Switchboard)

DEFENCE COMMITTEE

H K 202 7/8

RECEIVED WAT

29 DEC 1986

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

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(194)

for appropratead

PS / Mr Renta Defence

Dept.

MEO EAD SEAD HKD Mrttasta

18 December 1986

Tassen DixoR

29

APS

12

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I am writing on behalf of all my colleagues on the defence Committee to thank you for the help which you and your Department gave us in our recent tour to Oman, Diego Garcia, Singapore and Hong Kong. We learned a great deal, and the high calibre of FCO personnel we met contributed greatly to the success of our visits.

Despite the fact that the Embassy in Oman was very heavily pressed, with a major international exercise following closely on a Royal Visit, their assistance with our visit was exemplary. We particularly welcomed the opportunity to complement our observing of Exercise SAIF SAREEA with calls on Omani Ministers; and we were honoured by an audience with HM The Sultan, who in over an hour of cordial and pleasant conversation left us in no doubt as to the warmth of relations between the United Kingdom and the Sultanate.

Our visit to Diego Garcia convinced us in a most vivid way of the great value of this territory to the defence interests of our country and of the United States. We particularly appreciated the frankness of the briefing we received there from the US authorities, and we were much impressed at the excellent job of work which Naval Party 1002, under the overall direction of the Commissioner, is doing in representing British interests there.

Our stay in Singapore had to be brief, but in our short time there Hamilton Whyte entertained us most hospitably and gave us some valuable insights into issues affecting Singapore and her neighbours.

Our visit to Hong Kong was sadly overshadowed by the death of the Governor. The great respect in which he was so clearly held by the people of the Colony, and their sorrow at his loss, made a deep impression on all of us. The content of the briefing which David Akers-Jones gave us demonstrated the achievements of the patient and careful diplomacy which has proved so successful in developing our relationship with the People's Republic of China and in instilling such confidence in the future of Hong Kong up to and after 1997.