TNAG-1936-FCO40-2762-Future-of-Hong-Kong-defence-and-public-order-1989 — Page 68

FROM:

RP HATFIELD

-

SECRET UK EYES A LOCSEN

Head of Secretariat (Overseas) (Commitment)

30

ET MON

CO Hum Esq

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

Main Building, Whitehall, London SWIA 2HB

Telephone (Direct Dialling) 01-218

(Switchboard) 01-218 9000

Head of Hong Kong Department Foreign and Commonwealth Office London

SW1

гул

一

6144 MKC 062/_

27 JAN 1989 D/See(0)(C)/6/7

17 January 1989

Dear

Chrityle

HONG KONG GARRISON WITHDRAWAL PLAN (CDS 7/87) FIRST REVISE SECOND DRAFT

N

Mr Fortmon

2411

enter

W/241.

Thank you for sending me a copy of your letter of 13 January to Alan Hicks.

If I may say so, I strongly support the points you make about the title "Sovereign Force" and the senitivity of a possible reinforcement exercise in 1992, and I have made similar points to DROW myself. I also agree with your views on the need for careful timing and presentation of any reinforcement exercise. I do, however, have some reservations concerned with your pro- posed pattern of consultation with the HKG.

I am quite content with the proposal to send the Governor a copy of the revise plan in draft on a personal basis; indeed, I would regard him as entitled to no less by virtue of his position as Commandier-in-Chief. I am also content with the proposal to furnish EXCO with a sanitised version of the review if they ask to see it. I am not quite happy, however, with the notion of sending EXCO a summary of the review if the implication is that they would have some say on the military dispositions that it is proposed should be made; it must surely be a well-established principle that such matters are for HMG to decide on.

It may be that I am being over-sensitive, and that what you have in mind is simply to notify EXCO of the results of the review after it has taken place and been approved by Ministers. If so I would of course have no objection to an appropriate form of words being constructed.

I would be happy to have a word on the telephone if you wish.

Copy: Air Cdre A G Hicks,

DROW

R

SECRET UK EYES A LOCSEN