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PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts
PARLIAMENTARY LABOUR PARTY: MEETING ON HONG KONG
1.
I attach the following papers for Lord Goronwy-Roberts's
meeting on 25 November:
2.
A.
B.
C.
D.
A A
E.
F.
G.
"Hong Kong: A Case to Answer"
Commentary on "A Case to Answer" by the Hong Kong Government.
Answers to recent parliamentary questions by Mr Sillars.
The Governor's LegCo speech of 16 October.
Labour Adviser's draft brief on Labour Affairs for the Overseas Labour Consultative Committee.
Draft Country Assessment Sheet on British Interests in Hong Kong.
Brief for the International Committee of the Labour Party.
Lord Goronwy-Roberts might start by inviting the meeting to consider the reasons why we are in Hong Kong and the political realities of our presence there. For this purpose the schedule of British Interests in the Country Assessment Sheet provides background.
3.
But the underlying reason is that the overwhelmingly Chinese population (up to half of whom are themselves immigrants) have chosen to live there under our protection. China is content with the status quo. If we tried to change it we could be faced with a collapse of confidence which would raise the question of the approximately two million citizens of the UK and Colonies (though this should not be over-stressed. At present they have no right of abode in the UK and China regards them as Chinese nationals anyway).
4.
At present Hong Kong costs us nothing, apart from the garrison to which Hong Kong contribute (present contribution about £82 m. per year) and a token amount of technical assistance.
/If the
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