メー
ཡཾ ན
Droom Charks
BAZETAKO EL BOCARLA Batterit an meŘE 15 BEA VALK ANGRENNARIBUS ENA Estavenia LAKE SOUND, VA.
CONFIDENTIAL
011/2
MKD
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
MRB 011/2
London SW1A 2AH
21 December 1987
799
1671
Visit to London by Mr Martin Lee
I wrote to you on 8 December about the visit to London by Mr Martin Lee and a delegation from Hong Kong, who were lobbying for the introduction of direct elections to the Legislative Council in 1988. I noted that Mr Lee had asked to be received by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary if he returned with a similar delegation in January. I also enclosed Mr Lee's lengthy letter to the Prime Minister.
Our view remains that it would be inappropriate for either the Prime Minister or the Foreign Secretary to receive any further delegation led by Mr Lee. It has no official standing and represents only one particular element in Hong Kong opinion. Hong Kong people have been given a full opportunity to comment on all the issues raised in the current review of representative government, including the possible introduction of direct elections. It would be difficult for Ministers to meet every unofficial group who might wish to make further representations, and it would also put the Governor of Hong Kong in a difficult position since he too has decided against receiving such delegations. However Legislative Councillors clearly have a special position in Hong Kong, and it is entirely fitting that Mr Lee and his Legislative Councillor colleagues should be received by the Minister of State in the Foreign Office who has special responsibility for Hong Kong. Mr Lee has weakened his case by declining our first offer of a discussion with Lord Glenarthur, and by subsequent disparaging comments about the level of his reception.
Mr Lee's letter to the Prime Minister is a skillful piece of advocacy but presents an incomplete and tendentious view of developments since 1984. We recommend a reply from Lord Glenarthur, which would expressed renewed regret that Mr Lee had declined to meet him for a discussion, but explain that his door remained open to Mr Lee and his LegCo colleagues. On the substance of Mr Lee's letter, Lord Glenarthur would reaffirm our commitment to the development of representative government in Hong Kong; defend the integrity of the current review; reaffirm our responsibility for the administration of Hong Kong right up to 1997; and explain the need for contact with the
/Chinese
;