CONFIDENTIAL
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1
Telephone 01-
RECA REGISTRA
- SAUG 1975
Your reference
File
58
G P Lloyd Esq CMG
Secretary for Security HKK 3/548/2
HONG KONG
NEXT
55
79
Our reference NICK 3/548/2
Date
MP'S VISITS UNDER MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AUSPICES
55
2 August 1973
1. Thank you for your letter of 24 July, addressed to Andrew Stuart, who is on a month's leave.
2. I attended a briefing meeting at the Ministry of Defence on 17 July for the six MPs and the Peer who are to visit the Armed Services in Hong Kong this autumn. It was held by Mr Kershaw who, as you know, was an FCO Minister before he replaced Lord Lambton at the Ministry of Defence. Andrew might have gone had he not been tied-up with talks with the Governor and Chief Minister of Seychelles. I gave the MPs a run-down on aspects such as the constitutional position, achievements of and the problems in Hong Kong, and Hong Kong/UK relations. I particularly emphasized the defence contribution. I also left for each of them a copy of the Hong Kong Year Book for 1973, together with a selection of fact-sheets etc., which Michael Wright had kindly supplied. I had earlier discussed the question of briefing with Michael, and we had agreed that I would tell the MPs that he would be only too happy if they were able to find time for him to give them a further briefing on another occasion. I emphasized this offer twice. Whether they can find time to take it up must, I think, be for them to decide. I have now, however, suggested informally to the Ministry of Defence that next year we might consider whether the Hong Kong Commissioner should attend the briefing meeting.
3. We have it in mind, a little nearer the time, to let them have written briefing on a number of topical issues, most of which I did mention orally. In addition to a Note on Hong Kong's constitutional position, relations with China and the defence contribution, this might include topics such as textiles, Sterling, the Mass Transit Scheme, air traffic rights, social services (including particularly your development plans for the next few years), housing, bribery and corruption, and the death penalty.
CONFIDENTIAL 1.
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