TNAG-2394-FCO40-3481-Commander-British-Forces(CBF)--Hong-Kong-position-on-the-Exe-1992 — Page 8

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4.

The Governor has explained his proposals to CBF. He has told him that he would be happy for him to continue to see key ExCo papers confidentially, and would wish to invite him to attend ExCo meetings of direct interest to him on an ad hoc basis. CBF will of course continue to play a key role in the Governor's Security Committee (whose role will be enhanced) and to participate in the Governor's weekly meetings with

senior officials.

5. The Governor intends to propose to CBF that he should no longer attend meetings of ExCo on a regular basis with effect

from the date of the Governor's LegCo address. We shall need to go to the Privy Council for an amendment to the Royal

Instructions (clause II) in due course. But this need not

delay the practical implementation of the change.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

10 September 1992

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(DOUGLAS HURD)

Mr зат [PS/Mr Goodlad

HKA 011/1

Private Secretary

고

Sunday 1. State (14

-7 SEP 1992

FROM: N J Cox

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9/2

Hong Kong Dept

DATE: 4 September 1992

cc: PS/PUS

Sir J Coles

Mr Goulden

Mr Donnelly, NPDD

Miss Brooks

Legal Advisers

that in Gorene's decision is

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HONG KONG: POSITION OF THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES ON EXCO vind.

Jun 19

Problem

1.

The Governor wishes to announce in his LegCo address on 7

October the removal of the Commander British Forces (CBF) from

ExCo.

Recommendation

2. That the Secretary of State should minute the Defence Secretary, supporting the Governor's decision to take this

good opportunity for CBF to leave ExCo without loss of face.

I submit a draft.

Background

3.

When Lord Wilson first sought our agreement to

remove CBF from ExCo, the Secretary of State agreed that this

anachronism should be corrected. But the MOD argued against,

concerned that CBF would no longer be sufficiently attuned to

comm.britf.ADMIN.joyce

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political and economic developments in Hong Kong. The

General's face was no doubt the real issue. When his own

departure was announced, Lord Wilson thought that a decision

on the timing of CBF stepping down from ExCo should be left to his successor. Previous correspondence rests with Sir M

Quinlan's letter of 4 March to the PUS, which showed him

reluctant to accept the principle and not accepting that the

problem was purely one of timing.

4.

Mr Patten now considers that the major reshaping of ExCo which he proposes would present ideal opportunity to announce

the removal of CBF from ExCo. The two main reasons remain:

(i) that it is increasingly anomalous in the more

politically-charged environment in Hong Kong for a British General to be a member of the senior policy-making body, particularly when there will no longer be any LegCo members on ExCo; and (ii) that we wish to avoid giving the Chinese any precedent for imposing a PLA General on the post-1997 ExCo.

5. The Governor has told CBF of his proposal and has explained that:

he is willing for CBF to continue to see key ExCo papers confidentially;

he would invite CBF to attend ExCo meetings of direct interest to him on an ad hoc basis; and

he intends to enhance the role of his Security Committee, on which the CBF will continue to play a key role. CBF will also continue to attend the Governor's weekly meetings with senior

officials.

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comm.britf.ADMIN.joyce