CONFIDENTIAL
ACEAGW
BACKGROUND
1.
Before the delegation led by Mr Martin Lee visited London from 7-10 December to lobby for the introduction of direct elections in Hong Kong in 1988, he asked that the Prime Minister or the Secretary of State should receive the delegation. Ministers however decided that it would be appropriate for Lord Glenarthur to receive only the three Legislative Councillor members of the delegation, in view of their special position in Hong Kong. Others in Hong Kong had been given every opportunity to comment on the question of direct elections under the Green Paper review of developments in representative government.
2.
In the event, Martin Lee declined to enter substantive discussions with Lord Glenarthur as the Minister was not prepared to meet the whole delegation. He handed Lord Glenarthur a letter addressed to the Prime Minister and requested that the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State should receive the delegation in January.
3. We propose to recommend that Lord Glenarthur should again indicate that he is ready to meet LegCo members of the delegation; but that they should not be received by the Prime Minister or the Secretary of State. This is in accordance with the Governor's views.