180
5. WE HAVE NOT IN THE PAST OBJECTED TO MEMBERS OF EXCO OR LEGCO
ACCEPTING INVITATIONS TO VISIT PEKING IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL OR
BUSINESS CAPACITIES: INDEED THIS IS ONE WAY OF GETTING ACROSS TO
THE LEADERS IN PEKING WHAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG REALLY WANT.
AND THERE IS ALREADY IN PROSPECT A VISIT BY A GROUP OF YOUNGER
PEOPLE PLANNED FOR MAY (MY TELNO 299). BUT THIS PROPOSAL THAT
EXCO MEMBERS SHOULD JOIN THE CPPCC IS A VERY DIFFERENT THING.
I HAVE TOLD
THAT GIVEN ITS LARGE SIZE, THESE INVITED
COULD EXERCISE NO REAL INFLUENCE IN THE CONFERENCE AND THE
CONFERENCE ITSELF HAS NO INFLUENCE ON POLICY. I READ THE INVITATIONS AS PART OF THE CHINESE ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN DIRECT CHANNEL
WITH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WHICH THEY WOULD USE TO THEIR OWN ENDS
SEPARATELY FROM THE DIPLOMATIC TALKS WITH THE U.K.:, AND ALSO
AS AN ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THOSE LOCAL LEADERS ON WHOM WE RELY.
MOREOVER, IF THE CHINESE DO ANNOUNCE THEIR PLANS IN JUNE, THE PRESENCE OF EXCO MEMBERS IN PEKING WHEN AN ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE
COULD PUT THEM IN A FALSE POSITION.
6. IT IS MY VIEW THAT EXCO MEMBERS SHOULD DECLINE. BUT GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE WHICH
ATTACHES TO THIS DEVELOPMENT I
UNDERTOOK TO CONSULT YOU AND HM AMBASSADOR IN PEKING AND SEEK
YOUR ADVICE TOO.
7. SINCE HE IS THEORETICALLY NOT AWARE THAT AN INVITATION MAY BE
EXTENDED TO HIM,
DOES NOT PROPOSE TO GIVE AN IMMEDIATE
RESPONSE TO ANY PROPOSITION WHICH MAY BE MADE AT THE LUNCH ON WEDNESDAY. HE WILL SEEK TO PROBE WHAT THE CHINESE ARE AIMING AT. BUT THERE MAY BE SOME DISCUSSION OF ALL THIS AT THE EXCO MEETING ON WEDNESDAY MORNING AND I SHOULD ACCORDINGLY BE GRATEFUL IF YOUR VIEWS COULD REACH ME DESKBY 2301002. I SHOULD ALSO BE GRATEFUL IF RESEARCH DEPARTMENT COULD SEND ME BY THE SAME DEADLINE A NOTE (SAY TWO PAGES LONG) ON THE CPPCC IN A FORM WHICH I COULD SHOW TO EXCO.
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR
EXEMPTION No..... 44, 38, 27(1)
64 YEARS UNDER FOI
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
OPREMERALDED
HD/HKGD HD/FED
COPIES TO
SIR I SINCLAIR
MR ROBERTS
LEGAL ADVISER
NEWS D
ED/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
MR COLES
PS
MR MARTIN
NO 10 DOWNING STREET
ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFICE
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SIR J BULLARD
MR GIFFARD MR DONALD
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