1991-11-20 12:25 CONSULAR DEPT FOU.
071 212 4135
Mr Daten Mr Midgley
HONG KONG CONSULATE GENERAL (HKCG): STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
1. We discussed enclosure `A', the proposed submission to Lord Caithness on the building of HKCG and the revised Schedule of Requirements. Before these were discussed Mr Bertram (OED) paid that the Hong Kong Immigration Department suggested strongly to him that when arranging their future computer records it would be useful for them to discuss with FCD Departamente our likely needs, after 1997.
2. The meeting then discussed the submission (see paras 7-9).
3.
We discussed the volume of visa and passport work. I raised the problems, referred to in my minute of 12 November, of some of the possible HKCG areas of responsibility
(1)
(11)
will HKCG provide services to the Southern provinces of Mainland China and
what protection HKCG will offer to 2.5 million British Nationals (Overseas) citizens (BNOs) who are and will be ordinarily resident in Hong Kong?
(iii) What political promises had been made to the HK'er's.
Reaction this time was immediate and Mr Burns said more thought ought to be given to them. He said they would think on them but he would expect guidance from Miss Spencer.
I promised him that we would consider the matters, in liaison with NTCD.
4.
To hold our position I added an extra DS7 Consular (Protection) to the staffing shown in the Schedule of Requirementé. Depending upon views on para 3 (i) to (iii) our staffing will need to be considered again.
5.
MVD reported on the usefulness of his visit to Hong Kong to compare notes with the Immigration Department.
It was suggested NTCD and Consular Department might consider sending someone, at departmental level, to Hong Kong to liaise on present/future needs.
6.
The next meeting will be before Christmas, probably soon after the proposed ÕED visit to Hong Kong in the first week of December.
/7.
Building (No direct Consular interest)
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.