PS/Lord Belstead
CONFIDENTIAL
НКК
Minister
02615
26/4
(39
HONG KONG : LORD RHODES'
INTENDED PQ
1.
As I mentioned to you on the telephone, we have heard from Sir J Cater that Lord Rhodes intends to put down a PQ, probably unstarred, for answer on 19 May. I do not have the exact wording of the question but it will be related to Hong Kong, its future and the Prime Minister's visit. Lord Rhodes has already got Lord Geddes, Lord Chalfont, Lord Kadoorie and Lord Llewelyn-Davies to agree to participate. He intends himself to suggest that the Secretary of State and possibly Lord Belstead accompany the Prime Minister.
2.
See (40)
Mr Clift and I feel that such a question, even from a peer who wishes to help Hong Kong, could at this time be most damaging to Hong Kong's and HMG's interests. Not only could it increase expectations on the future for the Prime Minister's visit but it could also in association with the Falk- land Islands crisis stimulate questions about sovereignty and 1997 which Ministers might not find at all helpful.
3.
We believe therefore that it would be better if the subject were not debated now. If Lord Belstead were to decide to raise this with Lord Rhodes, I should be grateful if he did not say that he had heard about it from Sir J Cater, who has gently tried to persuade Lord Rhodes to drop the question but without success.
28 April 1982
Эрисвитания.
P J Williamson
Hong Kong and General Department K242 233 4439
1.
Lord Belstead has seen. He believes that if Sir J Cater has already raised this with Lord Rhodes there would be little point in Lord Belstead himself trying. He believes we may simply have to live with this debate.
29 April 1982
After a
مسلم
www slig fy!.
Mr. Daylard
My
Mattlin
M A Arthur
PS/Lord Belstead
CONFIDENTIAL
Эличению о не
Adijs
assume that
Su M. Macehorse won't have been gazetted
as a fear by then?