CONFIDENTIAL

165

Mr Male

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Parliamentary Unit

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION:

OUR COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG

1. Sir Anthony Royle MP (Conservative, Richmond) has put down a question for oral answer on 6 November, to ask the Secretary of State if he will give an assurance that there is no intention to change or reduce the British political and military commitment to Hong Kong. Sir A Douglas-Home asked a similar question of Mr Ennals in March, but because of the rule against referring

to statements made in the last Parliament, we cannot relate the present answer back to Mr Ennals reply.

2.

The question may not be reached, but we have been asked to prepare draft answers to supplementaries. Sir Anthony Royle and other MPs may wish to pursue the questions of Hong Kong's future, self-government within the Colony, Chinese representation, and the Defence Review. A draft and notes for supplementaries are attached. These have been cleared with Defence Department and Far Eastern Department, and with the Governor of Hong Kong.

4 November 1974

cc

Mr Thomson

Mr Jackson, Defence Dept.

Mr Bentley, FED

ACS

A C Stuart

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.

PR Make

CONFIDENTIAL

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