Mr Murray
UNCLASSIFIED
Froko
HKK 430! 1
INDEX
по
PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts to issue fres
250
2:00
maid Rig
en
82.
25
FLAG A
FLAG
124
HONG KONG: MP'S LETTER FROM MR FRANK HOOLEY
1.
Mr Frank Hooley MP (Labour Heeley) has sent a further letter to Lord Goronwy-Roberts about the Hong Kong Government Shorthand-Audio Typists Association's dispute with the Hong Kong Government. This is a follow-up to his earlier B/C letter of 23 September and the Minister's reply of 10 October.
B/CQD
FLAG D
Attached
2. Mr Hooley has reverted to the idea, which he raised in his earlier letter, of the appointment of an independent arbitrator to pronounce on the merits of the claims that Mrs Cheung makes on behalf of her Association.
3.
Lord Goronwy-Roberts agreed with Mr Murray's recommendation, when replying to Mr Hooley's first letter, that we should not refer to the fact that Mr Stewart while in Hong Kong would be discussing the possibility of appointing an independent arbitrator. Mr Murray feared that to do so might mean a commitment to a certain course of action which Mr Hooley and others could then hold the FCO to. However, since Mr Hooley is insisting on this point, we must at least show that we have taken note of it. I recommend therefore that pending Mr Stewart's return from Hong Kong next week, an interim reply should be sent to Mr Hooley on the lines of the attached draft.
20 October 1977
cc:
Mr Cortazzi
W.E. Drantill
W E Quantrill K 247
Hong Kong & General Department