OCMIAN 7339
CONFIDENTIAL
OO HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
090900Z SEP
GRS 469
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1292
OF 090900Z SEPTEMBER 85
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
FROM HKD
CONFIDENTIAL
7339
-
1
HKK
040/70
RECEIVEU) » REGISTRY
INDEX
1 0 SEP 1985
FFICER
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
N
YOUR TELNO 1737 (NOT TO PEKING)
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: ANNUAL REPORT TO PARLIAMENT
1.
WE HAVE CONSULTED THE SECRETARY OF STATE ABOUT THE
PROPOSED FORMAT FOR THE ANNUAL REPORT TO PARLIAMENT SET OUT IN
ALAN SCOTT'S LETTER OF 28 JUNE. HE IS CONCERNED THAT IF WE
FOLLOW THESE PROPOSALS WE WILL END UP WITH A LONG REPORT (ABOUT 150 PAGES), MADE UP LARGELY OF PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED MATERIAL. WOULD RUN A SERIOUS RISK OF PARLIAMENTARY CRITICISM FOR SERVING
UP AN INDIGESTIBLE, AND IN SOME CASES OUT OF DATE COLLECTION OF
ALREADY AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS. MINISTERS COULD BE CRITICISED FOR
NOT TAKING THE TROUBLE TO REPORT PERSONALLY TO PARLIAMENT.
2.
WE
IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS CRITICISM, THE SECRETARY OF STATE
WOULD PREFER TO
EXPAND THE INTRODUCTION AND TO MAKE IT INTO THE MAIN BODY OF THE
REPORT. THIS COULD BE ABOUT 15 TO 20 PAGES LONG AND INCLUDE A
GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE EVENTS OF THE YEAR. IT MIGHT TAKE THE
FOLLOWING FORM:
(A)
(B)
INTRODUCTION TO THE REPORT STATING ITS PURPOSE (TO INFORM PARLIAMENT) AND A DESCRIPTION OF ITS PARTS:
A GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE EVENTS OF THE YEAR, BEGINNING
1
CONFIDENTIAL
I WITH
+