MR BLAKER'S MEETING WITH SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE:
11.30 AM, FRIDAY, 11 JANUARY
BRIEF NO 4:
PARLIAMENTARY INTEREST IN HONG KONG AND CONNEC TI ONS
BETWEEN HONG KONG PRESSURE GROUPS AND MPS
•
1 In recent years, Hong Kong has engendered more Parliamentary
Questions than almost any other FCO topic. However, the great
majority of these questions, most of which are critical of the Hong
Kong Government, have been asked by a very small group of backbench
MPS, and they do not indicate very widespread hostility towards the
Hong Kong Government in Parliament.
2. The Hong Kong Government themselves have tried to foster an
informed interest in Hong Kong through a programme of sponsored visits,
under which some 28 MPs have visited the territory in the past 5 years
as guests of the Government. The invitation list for these visits
is drawn up in consultation with the Chairman of the Anglo-Hong Kong
Parliamentary Group.
3. These visits, however, are seen by critics of the Hong Kong
Government as a propaganda exercise. A number of pressure groups in
Hong Kong have therefore established a "Fund for Justice", to sponsor
visits by MPs independently of the Hong Kong Government. The first
3 such visits took place in September last year. The pressure groups
also maintain frequent contacts with MPs whom they know to be critical
of the Hong Kong Government. Many of the PQs referred to in paragraph 1
abot undoubtedly resulted from these contacts.
4. The Hong Kong Government are as helpful as possible to any MPs
who visit Hong Kong, in whatever capacity. The Governor and his
senior officials met and held discussions with the 3 MPs who visited
/Hong Kong