TNAG-2394-FCO40-3481-Commander-British-Forces(CBF)--Hong-Kong-position-on-the-Exe-1992 — Page 7

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DEFENCE SECRETARY

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HONG KONG: COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES (CBF) ON THE

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

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In his letter of 4 March to David Gillmore,

rola.

Michael Quinlan agreed that CBF's position on the Executive Council (ExCo) should be looked at again when the new Governor

had formed a view.

2. Chris Patten has now reached conclusions on the way forward on constitutional development in Hong Kong. I shall be minuting OPD (K) shortly. One of his proposals is for a major re-vamping of ExCo. This will mean the departure of a number of the present members. He considers, and I agree, that this is the right opportunity for CBF to leave ExCo.

3. The Governor considers that it is increasingly anomalous

for a British General to be a member of the senior

policy-making body in Hong Kong. It will be particularly difficult to sustain the case for his membership at a time when, following the Governor's proposed changes, there will no longer be any Legislative Council members on ExCo. The

departure of CBF from ExCo would also avoid giving the Chinese any precedent for imposing a PLA General on ExCo after 1997.

SECRET