TNAG-2404-FCO40-3491-Hong-Kong-defence-and-public-order-1992 — Page 172

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CONFIDENTIAL UK COMMS ONLY

HKA 062/2

150501

MDHOAN 1032

CONFIDENTIAL

UK COMMS ONLY

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 441

OF 06160OZ MARCH 92

INFO ROUTINE HQBF HONG KONG, RIYADH

Mrstone

TOP COPY

1413

SIC

POSSIBLE VISIT BY SAUDI MILITARY

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1 DURING HIS RECENT VISIT TO THE GULF, THE DEFENCE SECRETARY SUGGESTED TO THE SAUDI AUTHORITIES THAT THEY MIGHT FIND IT VALUABLE TO VISIT HONG KONG TO SEE HOW CONTROL OVER THE BORDER IS EXERCISED AND TO SEE MARITIME ANTI-DRUGS OPERATIONS. BOTH TOPICS ARE OF CONSIDERABLE CONCERN TO THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT AND THEY HAVE RESPONDED POSITIVELY TO MR KING'S SUGGESTION. WE WOULD OBVIOUSLY BE KEEN FOR THIS TO BE ABLE TO GO AHEAD.

2 =

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MOD RECOGNISE THAT THESE MATTERS ARE PRIMARILY A MATTER FOR YOU THROUGH THE RHKP AND MARPOL RATHER THAN FOR THE HONG KONG GARRISON. WE WOULD THUS NOW ASK WHETHER YOU WOULD BE PREPARED IN PRINCIPLE TO ACCEPT A VISIT, PROBABLY IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 18 MAY, BY GENERAL BAHLAL, COMMANDER OF THE SAUDI FRONTIER FORCE (WHICH ALSO INCLUDES THE COASTGUARD). WE WOULD EXPECT THE VISIT TO COVER BRIEFINGS FROM THE RHKP AND MARPOL, AND TO OBSERVE BORDER CONTROL OPERATIONS AND ANTI-NARCOTICS ACTIVITIES. CBF HONG KONG HAS SAID THAT IN PRINCIPLE HE WOULD BE CONTENT TO BRIEF THE SAUDIS DURING THAT WEEK ON THE MILITARY SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE GARRISON, POSSIBLY INCLUDING A TRIP TO SEA IN ONE OF THE RN PATROL CRAFT, WHICH WOULD ALSO GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE THE CAPABILITY OF THE RM FAST PURSUIT CRAFT.

3.

WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO LET THE SAUDIS KNOW QUICKLY WHETHER YOU ARE CONTENT. IF THE BASIC IDEA AND TIMING ARE ACCEPTABLE WE AND THE MOD CAN SORT OUT DETAILS SUBSEQUENTLY IN CONSULTATION WITH YOU AND CBF.

HURD

YYYY

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