CONFIDENTIAL
(671)
HKD allle
L
8 December 1987
HKB 011/2
15 DEC 1987
T
Dear Charles
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
PA
London SW1A 2AH
A intenNo 8/12
Л
다
LM 8/1
I wrote to you on 23 November about the visit to London by Mr Martin Lee and a delegation from Hong Kong, who are arguing for the introduction of direct elections in 1988. You agreed that it would be appropriate for the delegation to be received by Lord Glenarthur. It was subsequently explained to Mr Lee that Lord Glenarthur was prepared to meet only the Legislative Counsellor members of the delegation.
Mr Lee nonetheless brought his entire delegation to the Private Office for the meeting with Lord Glenarthur today. When the Legislative Counsellor members of the delegation were received by the Minister, Mr Lee formally repeated his request that the full delegation should take part in the meeting. Lord Glenarthur was unable to agree, and Mr Lee indicated that if this was the case he could not continue the meeting. Lord Glenarthur expressed disappointment that an opportunity for a discussion had been wasted.
Before he left Mr Lee handed to Lord Glenarthur the attached very lengthy letter, addressed to the Prime Minister, explaining that it would be released to MPs and the press at noon. (We have already passed to you an advance text of the letter and submitted briefing on the issue for the Prime Minister's Question Time this afternoon). He said he appreciated that the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary were very heavily committed this week, but the delegation were hoping to come again at a time when it would be convenient for them to be received both by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, probably in January.
I shall write again in due course with advice on the letter and on Mr Lee's request to be received by the Prime Minister in January.
bous the
Altoon con
(R N Culshaw) Private Secretary
CD Powell Esq 10 Downing Street
CONFIDENTIAL