TNAG-2627-FCO40-3818-Classified-communication-facilities-in-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 39

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HKD 196/1

1997

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FROM: P F Ricketts

Hong Kong Department

DATE: 22 April 1992

Mr Soutar

Head of ISD (0)

REQUEST FROM BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION, HONG KONG, FOR

CRYPTEK

1. I have seen a copy of Mr Gardner's minute of 6 April to

the management officer, BTC, Hong Kong. I have also seen

BTC's TMR return and IT checklist. I appreciate that

resources are limited, and can understand why, on the basis

of past usage, the BTC may not appear to qualify for

Cryptek. But the fact is that the role of the BTC is developing rapidly and, since the IT checklist was drawn up

we have begun to plan for the build-up of the BTC over the

next five years to take on the full range of extra

responsibilities by 1997. There is now a stronger case for the installation of Cryptek.

2. The exisiting responsibilities of the Senior British Trade Comissioner (particularly in connection with the very large scale commercial opportunites involved in the port and airport development strategy) have increasingly required

communications of a highly sensitive nature. We need to communicate securely with him as Britain's representative in Hong Kong; and there are certain communications which we

would not want the Governor of Hong Kong, who has different

interests to protect, to be aware of. As the BTC evolves over the next five years into the Consulate-General, responsible for the full range of our interests in Hong Kong after 1997, the volume of this exclusive traffic will be

likely to increase. It is therefore a worry that all

JM3ABC/1

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