TNAG-2152-FCO40-3071-Commonwealth-war-graves-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 29

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 2445

OF 060804Z AUGUST 90

INFO ROUTINE PEKING,

CONFIDENTIAL

HKC 225

- 8 AUG 1990

STRY

GISTRY on Taken

KONG

23

033032 MDLIAN 087,5

BU.

Pa GS 7/8 TOP COPY Q DIST?

to me

UKREP

UKREP JLG HONG KONG

21

YOUR TELNOS 1250 AND 1319: COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES

1. WE ARE STILL GIVING FURTHER THOUGHT TO THE QUESTION OF HKG ENTERING INTO A WAR GRAVES AGREEMENT (WGA) WITH THE COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION (CWGC). ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE ARE EXPLORING IS WHETHER THERE ARE ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE CWGC WITHOUT A FORMAL WGA.

2. DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES (DUS) JAMES SO WILL, WHILE IN UK, MAKE A ROUTINE CALL ON CWGC ON 8 AUGUST IN HIS CAPACITY AS AGENT OF THE COMMISSION. THE QUESTION OF ARRANGEMENTS IN RESPECT OF THE COMMISSION'S OPERATION AND SECURITY OF TENURE POST 1997 IS LIKELY TO BE RAISED AND SO PROPOSES TO DRAW ON THE FOLLOWING:

(A) THE BENEFITS TO THE COMMISSION OF MAINTAINING THE LEGISLATIVE STATUS QUO AND OF THE COMMISSION CONTINUING TO APPOINT THE DUS AS LOCAL AGENT.

(B) THE POSSIBILITY OF EXECUTING A MINOR AMENDMENT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE TO THE EFFECT THAT THE POWERS OF THE DUS UNDER RELEVANT SECTIONS WOULD NOT BE EXERCISED WITHOUT PRIOR CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSION IN RESPECT OF THE TWO CWGC CEMETERIES.

(C) OUR RELAXED VIEW IF THE CWGC WISH TO APPOINT THEIR OWN MANAGER IN HONG KONG.

(D) THE QUESTION OF A WGA (IF RAISED) IS STILL BEING CONSIDERED BY HKG. HE WILL UNDERTAKE TO REFLECT ANY VIEWS EXPRESSED.

3. WE SHALL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ANY FEEDBACK FROM THE CWGC UPON SO'S RETURN AT THE END OF THE MONTH AND REVERT.

4. AS REGARDS PARA. 4 OF SECOND TUR, WE CAN CONFIRM THAT CWGC WILL BE CONSULTED FURTHER IN THE EVENT THE LAND COMMISSION HAS DIFFICULTIES WITH THE DEEDS OF APPROPRIATION.

1

PAGE CONFIDENTIAL