TNAG-2090-FCO40-2975-Diplomatic-representation-of-third-countries-in-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 236

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LOOSE MINUTE

D/Sec(0) (C)/6/18

27 July 1990

Head of FLS

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FCO/NPDD

FCO/HKD

FCO/FED

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27/7

REPUBLIC OF KOREA: ESTABLISHMENT OF A MILITARY LIAISON OFFICE IN HONG KONG

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Thank you for your minute (D/FLS/8/44/03) of 17 July, on the Korean DA's latest proposal to establish an ROK military liaison office in Hong Kong. Our DA in Seoul has been approached in parallel along the same lines.

2.

The position has not changed since we last advised you about this on 2 April, regardless of what the Koreans propose to call their office. You should therefore reply to Yoon that:

3.

the Koreans will doubtless be aware of the political sensitivities in Hong Kong;

as we said in April, both MOD and FCO see practical and political difficulties in setting up such an office (regardless of its formal title), and we believe that the Hong Kong Government would not favour the idea;

far more US servicemen than Koreans (whether servicemen or civilians) pass through Hong Kong, and we frankly don't see a role for a Korean liaison office.

We are signalling the same lines out to Seoul.

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