CONFIDENTIAL
1. I share the Department's view that a report on the
lines suggested by Hong Kong would appear very indigestible
to Parliament. The alternative proposed in the draft
telegram would be better for Parliamentary use. But it
will involve a good deal of extra work for Hong Kong.
2. If we can, it would be best to avoid an annual debate
on Hong Kong. Such a debate would inevitably be an occasion
for much probing about the activities of the Joint Liaison
Group whose affairs can most effectively be conducted
without the searchlight of publicity. If the report is
prepared as a White Paper on the lines suggested it would
however, I think, be advisable for it to be presented
by making a Ministerial statement which would provide
the opportunity for a limited amount of questioning.
3.
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I see no harm in the Governor returning for the
occasion if he sees a local political need to do so. It
would clearly be useful if he saw the Anglo/Hong Kong
Parliamentary Group at the same
same time. I suspect that UMELCO
will also want to get in on the act. As always, a visit by
a UMELCO group will need careful handling and may not be
entirely helpful. We should find out whether the Governor
anticipates a demand to come. I have added a sentence to the
telegram accordingly. If UMELCO want to come for the
presentation of the report we cannot, of course, stop them. Nor would it be sensible to try.
4 September 1985
CONFIDENTIAL
D C Wilson