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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 57
20 AFK1703
on.
FM FCO 151623Z APR 83
DESK OFFICER
TO ROUTINE HONG KONG
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
TELEGRAM NUMBER 361 OF 15 APRIL 1983.
INFO PEKING
-
IM
PRIVATE MEMBER'S MOTION ON THE DEPENDENT TERRITORIES, 15 APRIL: HONG KONG.
1. THERE WAS A LENGTHY THOUGH POORLY ATTENDED DEBATE IN THE
COMMONS ON 15 APRIL ABOUT THE FUTURE OF BRITAIN'S DEPENDENT
TERRITORIES. THE MOTION WAS PUT DOWN BY MR IVOR STANBROOK MP (C).
MOST SPEAKERS, INCLUDING STANBROOK, REFRAINED FROM
SPECULATING ABOUT HONG KONG'S FUTURE GIVEN ITS SPECIAL CIRCUM-
STANCES AND THE FACT THAT CONFIDENTIAL TALKS WITH THE CHINESE
ARE TAKING PLACE.
2.
3.
THE JUST PUBLISHED REPORT ON HONG KONG BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
ON DEFENCE WAS TOUCHED UPON AS WAS THE REPORT EARLIER THIS WEEK
ABOUT A GROUP OF POLICE IN HONG KONG REQUESTING REGISTRATION AS
BRITISH CITIZENS. SIR PAUL BRYAN WAS AMONG THOSE WHO SPOKE UP FOR
HONG KONG.
4. IN THE WINDING UP SPEECH MR ONSLOW MADE CLEAR THAT HMG COULD
NOT ACCEPT ANY MOVES WHICH INVOLVED A LESSER DEGREE OF COMMITMENT
TO ONE DEPENDENT TERRITORY THAN TO OTHERS AND STRESSED THAT HMG
VALUES HONG KONG'S CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UK. (N.B. PLEASE SEE HANSARD FOR PRECISE WORDING.)
PYM
NNNN
DIST
LIMITED
HKGD
FED
NEWS DEPT
PS
PS/LORD BELSTEAD
PS/MR OWSLOW
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD
COPIES TO
HKGO LONDON.
ì
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