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c.
Hong Kong
CONFIDENTIAL
D.
As a distant observer, Mr Parsons was struck by the degree of unanimity in Parliament on the recent debate and the absence of any divisions on party political lines. He wondered whether a great deal of lobbying had been done. I said that, naturally, Ministers had kept in touch from the beginning with the leaders of the other parties to explain the realities of the situation to them and that the Secretary of State and his colleagues also took a lot of trouble with the backbench and other parliamentary groups on this and other matters. The fact was, however, that the realities of the situation were very obvious as was the anxiety on the part of many Members of Parliament about having to face an influx of people from Hong Kong claiming right of abode in this country, whatever the legalities of the situation.
MPS on
all sides of the House were very anxious that such an influx should be avoided. Mr Parsons thought that UMELCO would have been disappointed by the reaction to their case.
Economic Summit
I said that we would be making arrangements to brief various groups in London and elsewhere immediately after the Summit. If Mr Parsons wanted any special information he only had to ask. We also aimed to send an emmisary to Canada and Sir Crispin Tickell was a possibility for this role, although he would not be able to go until after the European Summit. Mr Parsons seemed to think that such arrangements would be satisfactory.
CONFIDENTIAL
70300
Antony Acland