TNAG-1874-FCO40-2665-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-other-British-Dependent-Terr-1989 — Page 7

ROBATO

CODE 18-77

Mr January WIAD

Reference

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HKB 02017

FICE (23

DEPENDENT TERRITORIES TELEGRAMS

PERSONAL SERIES

1.

Mr Penfold's minute of 3 July refers.

2. In HKD, we continue to make regular use of the "personal" series. In Hong Kong, with its large civil service, this is helpful for a number of reasons including:

(a) For some very contentious or sensitive issues we need to be able to consult the Governor personally. For these issues we use the "strictly personal" series. If the Governor wishes to show such telegrams to others in the Hong Kong administration he first seeks our agreement to this. Given the 1997 situation we envisage that the need for such telegrams will continue.

(b) For slightly less contentious or sensitive issues we the "personal" series. This ensures that telegrams receive at most a limited distribution in Hong Kong. Such an arrangement is important as many telegrams would otherwise receive a fairly wide distribution within the Hong Kong Government.

CC: COD

SED FID

EAD

Robert Footman

R C L Footman

Hong Kong Department

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