TNAG-2181-FCO40-3118-Hong-Kong-nationality-international-support-1990 — Page 37

Background Only

Full brief in

Standard Format

(see FCO circular

170/87 of 15.7.87)

Checklist of points to make

Other (use part 7 below if necessary)

Department

ECD(I)

Title of Individual Brief

SEAD

MAED/ SEND

EC Internal incl Single Market

Vietnamese Refugees (memory jogger)

Environmental Issues: to include

Dounreay; decommissioning of

ONLY

X

nuclear subs; North Sea; pollution;

DTI

acid rain; Bergen Conference Norwegian/British Trade.

X

EED

Developments in Eastern Europe

ACDD

Arms Control & Disarmament inc CFE

XIX

CRD

British Council in Norway

X

OED

The Diplomatic Estate Oslo

X

HKD

Hong Kong assurances (memory jogger

only)

CALL FOR BRIEFING: CHECKLIST OF POINTS TO CONSIDER

1. For what purpose is the brief required?

2. When is the meeting/visit? If you set premature deadlines the briefing may have to be revised.

3. How long will the meeting last? Will interpreters be present? How many points can be covered?

4. Has the user of the brief been asked

- what he/she wishes to discuss?

- what he/she thinks will come up in discussion? - about particular points to get across?

5. Do you know what points the User's interlocutor wishes to discuss? Has the Post been consulted?

Has an agenda been agreed?

6. If a written brief is required:

- which points are certain to be raised and so need full briefing?

- which points might be raised and so need less briefing?

- which points are unlikely to be raised and so require only defensive briefing?

7. What form of briefing is needed or appropriate? *- Background (will an existing or stock brief do?)

* - Checklist of points to make (or checklist of objectives)?

- Full briefing in the standard format? (see FCO circular

170/87 of 15.7.87)

- Other?

* (NOTE: in all but exceptional circumstances, officials should be able to manage with one or other of these)

8. Specify when you want the brief, in what format it should be, whether it should be in draft or final form,

how many copies are needed, whether all copies need supporting documents etc.

9. Check with User's office to see whether he/she would like you to sit in on the meeting/take the record. If you do not attend the meeting try whenever possible to establish the usefulness of the brief and inform

contributors.