TNAG-2766-FCO40-3983-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1993 — Page 44

BRIEFING FOR NEWS DEPARTMENT ON THE 1993 DEPARTMENTAL REPORT

Overall FCO programme

Reductions of £12 million, £28 million and £30 million in

Diplomatic Wing baselines for years 1993/94, 1994/95 and

1995/96.

Implications General

Reduced resources for posts overseas; reduced capital

spending in some overseas posts; reduced Diplomatic Wing

activity.

Question: What does this mean for 1993/94?

Answer: Will be difficult. But should be just manageable. Have slowed down capital programmes. Had to make reductions to

military training and to the FCO scholarship programme - the

latter has been offset by extra funds being made available by

the ODA. But through savings have been able to devote more money to good government in the Dependent Territories.

Question: What about opening new posts in former Yugoslavia,

former Soviet Union?

Answer: Have been able to establish modest new missions by

redeploying existing resources. Have so far opened new posts in Kiev, St Petersburg and Alma Ata in the former Soviet Union

(as well as in all the Baltic States) and in Zagreb and

Ljbuljana in the former Yugoslavia. Also propose to open in

Minsk. Elsewhere have mission in Phnom Penh; and intend to

open in Ho Chi Minh City. Are considering further

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