TNAG-2394-FCO40-3481-Commander-British-Forces(CBF)--Hong-Kong-position-on-the-Exe-1992 — Page 32

SECRET FM FCO

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELNO 25

OF 08123OZ JANUARY 92

SECRET

N

TOP COPY Q DIST?

162326

MDLOAN 3669

HKA 01/1

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM RICKETTS, HKD

YOUR TELNO 50: CBF ON EXCO

BHKS 011/12 (1991)

1. IN THE LIGHT OF THE POINTS IN YOUR TELNO 3855, THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS RECENTLY MINUTED TO THE DEFENCE SECRETARY FAX) PROPOSING THAT THE NEW CBF SHOULD NOT BE ON EXCO. WOULD BE A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO CLAW THIS BACK NOW.

(COPY BY

IT

2. I SUGGEST THAT WE SHOULD AWAIT A RESPONSE FROM THE DEFENCE SECRETARY BEFORE TAKING FURTHER THE POINTS IN TUR. IF THE DEFENCE SECRETARY ACCEPTS THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S CASE, WE WILL THEN HAVE SECURED THE PRINCIPLE THAT FUTURE CBFS SHOULD NOT BE ON EXCO. WE CAN AT THAT STAGE PUT TO MINISTERS YOUR PROPOSAL THAT THE NEW CBF SHOULD TAKE UP HIS SEAT ON EXCO AND THAT IT WOULD BE FOR YOUR SUCCESSOR TO DECIDE WHETHER AND AT WHAT POINT THE THEN CBF SHOULD STAND DOWN FROM EXCO.

IF THE MOD STICK TO THEIR GUNS IN OPPOSING THE REMOVAL OF CBF FROM EXCO, YOUR PROPOSAL MIGHT THEN BE OFFERED AS A COMPROMISE.

3.

4.

IT MIGHT IN ANY CASE BE WORTH YOUR MENTIONING THIS SUBJECT

TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON 21 JANUARY. IF YOU AGREE, WE WILL INCLUDE THE POINT ON HIS CHECK LIST.

HURD

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

17

LIMITED

HKD

तवतल

DISTRIBUTION

17

SIR J COLES

MR BURNS

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