TNAG-2970-FCO40-4249-Future-of-Hong-Kong-transfer-of-UK-related-records-from-Hong-1993 — Page 119

Reference

LIST OF MAIN POINTS OF MEETING HELD AT MVD ON 11 MARCH AT 10.30.

Present

Mr Parkinson MVD (Chairman)

Mr Barnes-Jones } Hong Kong

Mr Woodrow

}

Dept

Mr Morris Nationality and Treaty Dept

Mr Falkner

Consular Dept

Mr Bennett } Management Review

Mr Weinrabe } Staff

10

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ajo 19/3

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The group met to discuss follow-up to Mr Parkinson's talks with HKID.

1.

RECORDS

2. Mr Parkinson said that the only records needed by MVD would be those on paper. There was sufficient space allocated in the new CG for those to be retained. Mr Morris said that records relating to naturalisation, registration and refunétation would need to be returned to the UK, presumably for retention by Library and Records Department. All BN (0) records would go to the new Consulate General: records of dependent territories passport holders connected with Hong Kong would not be needed. If however there was difficulty in e.g. space allocated although OED considered this would be adequate but would need to be identified throughout the new building, or in length of time taken to extract the records required from HKID, NTCD and LRD, would need to consider bringing all records back to the UK.

STAFFING

3.

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The MRS team are to provide a draft report by June this year, after comprehensive briefing by departments and a visit to Hong Kong. MVD were satisfied that the level of staffing proposed for the entry clearance section was right. MRS queried the need to take over visa/passport and consular functions up to a year before the transfer of responsibility. Mr Parkinson said that he had been told by HKID that they expected no redundancies; most of their staff would wish to stay with HKID. But there would be a problem if Beijing decided to replace HKID personnel with their own. If HKID did not release staff, it might be possible for us to recruit from ex-MOD staff, who would become redundant in 1997. was some discussion on the merits of recruiting British citizens (ex HKID) as ECOS, but no indication as to how many are working in that capacity in HKID now. (MRS gave as examples Washington and New York). On consular protection,

There

CODE 18-77