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Mr. Clift
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr. Morris
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No special briefys till after the
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FUTURE OF HONG KONG: BRIEFING MPS kolmes
1.
At your meeting on 25 July we touched on the question whether more MPs needed to be briefed on the future.
2.
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Earlier this year Mr Pym briefed a group of Conservative backbenchers mainly from the Hong Kong Parliamentary Group, as well as Dr Owen and Mr Steel. More recently, on 18 July, Mr Luce briefed a similar group of Conservative backbenchers led by Sir P Blaker (see Mr Warren-Gash's minute of 19 July).
3.
In addition to the above, Ministers have also been in touch with Lord Shawcross, Lord Shepherd and Lord Rhodes, while the Department has seen Mr Miller and Mr Moyle. Mr Luce has also seen Mr Adley.
4. Parliament goes into recess at the end of this week and does not reassemble until 24 October.
5. I believe that for the time being we do not need to arrange briefing for any more backbenchers of any party unless a particular reason for doing so arises, eg as in the case of Mr Heath in connexion with his visit to Hong Kong and China or in connexion with participation in a seminar or suchlike. On the other hand, if in September it becomes clear that the Chinese position has hardened and that as a result our strategy looks likely to change, then we may need to reconsider. In particular we should bear in mind those MPs who are likely to take a strong line in Parliament and who could cause difficulties (see para 3 of Mr Warren-Gash's minute of 19 July).
6.
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I do, however, think that we should try once again to arrange a briefing by the Secretary of State for a leading Labour Party figure. The obvious candidate is Mr Healey (who was due to be briefed, with the Prime Minister's agreement, before the Election). It would presumably be premature and inappropriate to offer similar briefing to any of the contenders for the Party leadership, although after the leadership question has been settled we may well need to brief the new leader.
7. If you agree I will draft a short submission and line to take recommending that the Secretary of State should brief Mr Healey.
CODE 18-77
27 July 1983
NDER
2 8 JUL 1983
Rule
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W Morris
PS. You mentioned briefing Mr Robertson, Mr Moyle's successor as
e Labour's Party Foreign Affairs spokesman. I agree that this would be a good idea.
cc: Mr Hoare
Mrs Priest
CONFIDENTIAL