TNAG-2181-FCO40-3118-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 113

MR GORHAM

MR BEAMISH

PS/MR SAINSBURY

CONFIDENTIAL

Hen

340/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

1 8 JUN 1990

DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY

INDEX

PA

Action Taken

FROM: DATE

P JANUARY

WIAD

15 FEBRUARY 1990

CC:

SEE BELOW

PaRyok

264

DEPENDENT TERRITORIES LIAISON GROUP MEETING: 31 JANUARY

1.

VEDNESDAY

I attach a note of the DTLG meeting held on

31 January.

2. The meeting reviewed progress across a range of DT administration including:

-

·

-

Governors terms and conditions of service;

offshore financial services;

drugs interdiction;

reporting obligations under human rights conventions; aviation and environment issues.

1

3. The discussion on security in the DTS, however, highlighted an anomaly which has been causing WIAD concern. Security Department said that the conduct of security inspections in the DTs was not their responsibility and fell to the Security Service; however they agreed that the Security Services lacked funds to put any recommendations into practice. We do not disagree that the Security Service retains responsibility for the overall security of our Dependent Territories, eg advice to Special Branches on counter espionage etc. However, now that the administration of Governors posts is more akin to that of Embassies and High Commissions, Security Department should advise on the physical and personal protection of Governor offices and of their FCO staff. This is particularly relevant in Montserrat where new offices are under construction following the destruction by Hurricane Hugo. In Hong Kong, Gibraltar and the Falklands there are currently no serious problems because security inspections of government buildings can be carried out by the military garrisons stationed in those Territories. But, this option does not exist in the Caribbean DTs (where the drugs-related security threat is increasing) or in Bermuda and St Helena (and may soon cease in Gibraltar).

CONFIDENTIAL