Parliamentary Unit
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No
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24
PQS: HONG KONG: MP'S SPONSORED VISITS
1.
I submit draft replies to 2 PQs from Mr Robert Parry MP
for priority written answers on 11 March. The drafts are based
on information supplied by the Hong Kong Government.
2.
The Hong Kong Government each year invites MPs to visit
Hong Kong at its expense. 18 have been invited since 1 January 1979.
One peer was also invited in that period but he is not included in
the draft reply since Mr Parry has asked specifically about
'hon Members'. In addition, 55 MPs and 21 peers visited Hong
Kong privately in this period, some of them more than once, and
asked for brief programmes or meetings with officials. They have
not been included in the reply nor have Ministeral and other visits
sponsored by HMG since they were not invited by the Hong Kong
Government.
3.
Mr Parry has been a critic of the Hong Kong Government for
many years and has himself been there on more than one occasion
at the invitation of local pressure groups. He has been particularly
active in recent weeks, having asked 23 Questions since 1 January.
9 March 1982
Brin
R D Clift
Hong Kong and General Department
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