TNAG-2394-FCO40-3481-Commander-British-Forces(CBF)--Hong-Kong-position-on-the-Exe-1992 — Page 30

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3. The Governor agrees on the need to ensure that the

CBF remains fully attuned to the political and economic developments in Hong Kong. He has confirmed his intention to ask CBF to attend ExCo meetings whenever any

major security issue is discussed. He has also said that he would have no objection to the CBF continuing to receive all ExCo papers although many are concerned

with routine domestic business. In addition to the

monthly meeting of the Governor's Security Committee, the

Governor also proposes to continue to invite the CBF to attend his regular weekly meetings with senior officials,

and would give CBF direct access to him whenever

necessary.

4.

It

The removal of the CBF from ExCo only five years

before 1997 may not be decisive in Chinese minds when

they are considering whether the local PLA Garrison

Commander should sit on ExCo. But I share the Governor's

view that CBF's position on ExCo is anomalous. It could be twisted by budding politicans in to accusations of military/HMG interference in local domestic affairs.

could also become a focus for an argument about whether

or not the post-1997 Commander of the PLA should hold a

similar position, with demands that HMG ensure he does

not. I believe that the balance of advantage lies in

making this change before it becomes a matter of

controversy in Hong Kong. This seems to me the crucial

argument.

5.

The Governor has said that he would be glad to discuss this issue during his visit to London in late January. But this would give us problems over timing: we

/shall

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