2
CONFIDENTIAL
3084 1
17
OO HONG KONG
GRS 228
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 301730Z JAN 85
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 197 OF 30 JANUARY 1985
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
FOR GOVERNOR FROM GALSWORTHY
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: ANNUAL REPORT TO PARLIAMENT
1.
-_HKK 040/12
I UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN YOU SAW THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON 22
JANUARY YOU DISCUSSED THE QUESTION OF AN ANNUAL REPORT TO
PARLIAMENT ON HONG KONG. YOU SAID THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF
EXISTING DOCUMENTS WHICH COULD BE ADAPTED WITHOUT TOO MUCH
DIFFICULTY TO MAKE SUCH A REPORT, AND AGREED TO LET THE SECRETARY
OF STATE HAVE SOME IDEAS.
2. IN VIEW OF THE CONTINUING PARLIAMENTARY PRESSURE MINISTERS
ARE INCLINING TOWARDS AGREEING TO PRESENT A GENERAL REPORT TO PARLIAMENT ANNUALLY COVERING THE WHOLE SPECTRUM OF DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, IF THIS IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT DIVERTING RESOURCES FROM OTHER MORE IMPORTANT TASKS. IN LIGHT
OF THIS WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR FURTHER THOUGHTS ON THE
SORT OF MATERIAL AVAILABLE AND ON HOW THE REPORT WOULD BE PREPARED. WE ARE NATURALLY ANXIOUS TO AVOID A COMMITMENT WHICH WOULD TIE UP OUR SLENDER RESOURCES IN PRODUCING EXTENSIVE MATERIAL
EXCLUSIVELY FOR THIS PURPOSE.
3.
MINISTERS MAY REFER TO THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH A REPORT IN THE DEBATE ON THE THIRD READING OF THE HONG KONG BILL. IN DOING SO THEY WILL MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IT WILL NOT BE A REPORT ON THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, THE WORK OF WHICH WILL BE CONFIDENTIAL.
लू
HOWE
LIMITED
HKD
FED
PS
PS/MR LUCE
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
CONFIDENTIAL