CONFIDENTIAL
BRIEF
(c)
THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG'S VISIT: 7-10 DECEMBER 1976
Possible Visit of Parliamentary Delegation to Hong Kong
BACKGROUND AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
1. Mr James Johnson (Labour MP for Kingston-upon-Hull West) called on Lord Goronwy-Roberts on two occasions during the first six months of this year and both times urged him to consider the appointment of an all-party parliamentary delegation to look into the situation in
Hong Kong. He revived the idea in a letter he wrote to the Minister of State in September. Lord Goronwy-Roberts then undertook to raise it with the Governor of Hong Kong when the latter next visited the Office. (The Minister of State has recorded that he had a brief
discussion with Sir M MacLehose in July but that it was inconclusive.)
2. The exact nature of Mr Johnson's proposal has never been clear.
He has said that he wants "someone to look at the situation" or "a
special all-party Committee appointed by HMG with the aim of producing a White Paper". "There seem to be three possibilities: (a) the appointment by the Secretary of State of a small
...
all-party delegation drawn from both Houses of Parliament
to visit Hong Kong on a fact-finding mission;
(b) the appointment by the House of Commons of a Parliamentary Select Committee with the power to call for witnesses
(c)
ARGUMENT
3.
and to report to the House on the situation in Hong Kong;
a visit to Hong Kong, at the Hong Kong Government's invitation and expense, of a slightly larger and more influential all-party group of MPs (of both Houses) than is normally the case.
It is arguable that any one of these proposals might allay parliamentary pressure on Hong Kong. In fact, there is little pressure at present and, Mr Johnson apart, there is no apparent interest in a parliamentary enquiry. The publication of the Fabian Society's pamphlet on Hong Kong, "Hong Kong: Britain's Responsibility", earlier this year generated some interest in a parliamentary enquiry,
CONFIDENTIAL
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