ARRABY
CONFIDENTIAL
FROM: AR PAUL
Seactors & State
Hong Kong Department
DATE: 12 December 1988
CC: PS/Lord Glenarthur
PS/Mr Eggar
Mr Gillmore
Mr McLaren
Mr Holt, PRU
Lily
38
Private Secretary
h
MKB 020/13
FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ENQUIRIES: HONG KONG
160
A
B,C
1. Mr Wilson, the Foreign Affairs Committee Clerk, telephoned me late on 9 December to ask about Hong Kong. He wanted to know about the timing of major events in Hong Kong's calendar in the coming year, in particular those related to the Basic Law, to assist the Committee in decisions that they will be taking just before Christmas about next year's programme. He was at pains to stress that his enquiry did not mean that a decision to hold an enquiry
or even a likelihood. But it was a into Hong Kong was a certainty, or even
possibility.
2.
I confined myself to a factual response about the timetable for the drafting and promulgation of the Basic Law, pointing out that the major period of public consultation in Hong Kong had finished and that substantial changes to the draft were not expected after the publication of the second draft early next year. Mr Wilson took note and undertook to keep in touch.
3. I do not believe that Mr Wilson has added anything to what we already know about the Committee's plans from Mr Holt's minute of 23 November. Mr Hum has already clearly pointed up the potential difficulties and sensitivities of an enquiry into Hong Kong (his minute of 25 November). The Secretary of State has concurred with
this judgement.
CONFIDENTIAL