TNAG-1834-FCO40-2608-Sensitivity-review-of-Hong-Kong-Government-records-1988 — Page 39

MR. Alan Paul HKD 444/1

HK Qeft. WH. 306

Reference

RECE

19 OCT 1988

en

а

p.a.

141.297

X6

SENSITIVITY REVIEW OF FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE RECORDS

The Public Records Acts of 1958 and 1967 provide for the transfer to the Public Record Office of all files or assembly of papers selected for permanent preserva- tion. These records then become due for release to the public 30 years after the date of the last item in the file or assembly, unless the Lord Chancellor specifi- cally authorises their withholding for a further period.

2. The function of the Sensitivity Review Unit is to identify and withhold those papers which, for various reasons, are sensitive and should not be made available to the public under the 30-year rule. Some of the reasons for withholding are:-

a.

b.

d.

confidential opinions on sovereignty disputes or related matters still engaging international attention which, if disclosed now, could seriously damage the British case;

confidential correspondence with or about British firms operating continuously in sensitive areas abroad, whose disclosure now might have adverse repercussions upon current work of trade promotion;

comments by Ministers and officials on events and personalities abroad which could still be exploited by hostile propagandists or otherwise used to embroil us with foreign rulers and statesmen whose public careers have spanned the 30-year period;

documents containing information about individuals the disclosure of which would cause distress or embarrassment to living persons or their immediate descendants.

If you consider papers are sensitive for other reasons, then these should be stated in your reply.

3. On the rare occasion when it is considered that a ministerial decision should be sought a recommendation to this effect should be made to the PUS through the Head of Library and Records Department.

4. Please do not comment on papers which have not been marked for your attention.

5.

Your reply should be received in the Sensitivity Review Unit one week from the date of this minute. Should it be necessary to consult and send this minute to another Department please inform the Unit by telephone.

6. Sue J. Laumbert

says

that

see

these papers

си

have

requested to

Territorial waters. Seth Lover

SENSITIVITÀ REVIEW UNIT

CW 360

Ext 211.3601.

13.10.1988