TNAG-2181-FCO40-3118-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 116

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b) Security in the DTs

2. Mr January emphasised WIAD's concern at the problems they had recently been facing when trying to organise a security inspection

in Montserrat. Mr Cook replied that responsibility for security

inspections in Governors' posts rested with the Security Services. Among the duties of a regional SLO was that of informing and advising Governors on the whole range of security questions.

However, he agreed that the Security Services had no budgetary

provisions to put their recommendations into practice. Security Department had no responsibility for the DTS. (They had recently been tasked with a round of inspection of 208 UK-based posts, but

these had not included the DTs). Nor could Security Department

assist with funds for implementation. Mr Cook's impression was that in the past Governors had been responsible for their own security arrangements. However, he agreed that this whole issue was an

anomalous "grey area". Mr Wallace recalled that when he was Governor of BVI in the 1970s, security arrangements had been paid

for by BDDC; Miss Robinson suggested that this might have happened

if BVI was in receipt of budgetary aid at the time.

3. Dr Harkin said that he was not aware of problems in the Falkland Islands, and that to his knowledge inspections there were carried out by the military. Mr Cook noted that a similar situation existed in Gibraltar and Hong Kong; in the latter, Security Department was

responsible for the inspection of the UK-based diplomatic

organisations, but not for that of the Hong Kong government

buildings. Mr Williams agreed with Mr Cook's comment on Gibraltar,

but pointed out that with the running down of the garrison, it might at a much later date no longer be feasible to call on the military to carry out inspections in that Territory. SED would then be voicing concern similar to WIAD's.

4.

Mr January concluded by emphasising that at least with regard to WIAD's territories, the status quo was no longer workable. During the constitutional problems in Montserrat in the Autumn of 1989, the Governor had expressed concern at the potential security threat on the island. Instances of this kind were likely to recur. Current

arrangements needed review.

CONFIDENTIAL