TNAG-1584-FCO40-2158-Localisation-of-the-Hong-Kong-police-force-1986 — Page 16

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5. MEMBEPS UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF CONFIDENTIALITY AS REGARDS

PLANS FOP THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE GARRISON, THEIP MAIN CONCEPN WAS

THAT WE SHOULD PROVIDE THE CHINESE WITH THE MINIMUM INCENTIVE TO

MOVE THE PLA INTO HONG KONG IN FORCE. THEY ACCEPTED THAT (EVEN

LEAVING ASIDE CHINA'S ATTITUDE) THE CASE AGAINST ESTABLISHING AN

INTERNAL SECURITY FORCE WAS STRONG. THEY PECOGNISED THE NEED THAT

HKG SHOULD NOT (NOT) BE SEEN TO BE CLIMBING DOWN IN RESPECT OF AN

INTERNAL SECURITY FORCE AS A RESULT OF PUBLIC COMMENTS BY PROG

OFFICIALS: AND THAT IT WOULD THEREFORE BE RIGHT TO LET THE CHINESE

KNOW THAT WE HAD NO SUCH PLAN. ON THIS LATTER POINT EXPLAINED THAT

MR. RENTON WOULD BE PRESENTING THE FACT THAT WE WOULD BE EXPANDING

THE POLICE FORCE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO MINIMISE THIS POSSIBILITY. !

UNDERTOOK TO LET THEM SEE A COPY OF MR RENTON'S SPEAKING NOTE AS

SOON AS IT WAS READY. IN THIS CONTEXT I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU

COULD LET ME HAVE YOUR TEXT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ( DO NOT CONSIDER

OUR TEXT NEEDS AMENDING AS A RESULT OF THE DISCUSSIONS IN EXCO).

6. MEMBERS WERE ALSO CONCERNED AT THE TIMING OF THE PUN-DOWN OF THE

GARPISON. THE CBF AND I EXPLAINED THAT THE ISSUES HAD TO BE TAKEN

IN SEQUENCE. THERE WAS NO INTENTION TO RUSH THINGS. THE NEXT

STAGE WOULD BE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO DETERMINE HOW LARGE AN

EXPANSION OF THE POLICE FORCE WOULD BE REQUIRED AND THE SPEED AT

WHICH IT COULD RE BUILT UP. IN THE MEANTIME PLANS FOR THE PHASED WITHDRAWAL OF THE GAPRISON WOULD BE CONSIDERED BUT NO DECISIONS WEPE

LIKELY TO BE REACHED UNTIL MUCH LATER IN THE YEAR.

YOUDE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS

RESEARCH D (FE)

D/HD PUSD

MP. WILSON

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