Reference....
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Champion
PROPOSED SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES
1.
I agree in general with the line of argument in the draft submission attached to your minute (undated). I would only suggest that, at least as far as Hong Kong is concerned, it should be possible to soften the negative. tone of the submission by pointing out that there is already an active Parliamentary Group. This fulfils many of the functions of a Select Committee but without the feature of published reports which would lead to the undesirable consequences outlined in the draft submission. Some members of the Parliamentary Group already think, for example, that we should give up our administration of Hong Kong. If this was published as the official recommendation of a group of MPs, it could indeed severely affect confidence in the Colony, though without
necessarily having any substantial effect on the policy of HMG. The same opinions can be voiced within the privacy of the Group with the same effect on Ministers but without the undesirable effects of publication.
2.
I strongly agree with the suggestion in your para. 2 that Lord Goronwy-Roberts should be consulted about any proposals affecting Hong Kong.
ACBL
A C Stuart
Hong Kong & Indian Ocean
Dept.
21 May 1974
CC
Mr
PA
Mr Larmour
Mr Scott
1225
RJ
Mr Coles
2215
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