CONFIDENTIAL
01630
MDHIAN 452
RARELY INDEED. I THINK THAT MOST PEOPLE, WHEN THEY ARE INVITED TO GIVE EVIDENCE BEFORE THE SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS NORMALLY RESPONDED POSITIVELY IN A VOLUNTARY FASHION.
Q. AND WHAT WEIGHT WILL THIS COMMITTEE HAVE WEHN IF FINALLY COMES OUT WITH ITS RECOMMENDATIONS? DO YOU THINK THAT, CONSIDERING IT IS DOMINATED BY CONSERVATIVE MPS, THAT IT WILL BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY FORCE A CHANGE OF POLICY ON THE PART OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT?
A. WELL, THE COMPOSITION OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE IS SEVEN CONSERVAT- VES AND FOUR LABOUR MPS BUT THE STYLE OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE IS NOT NEARLY AS CONFRONTATIONAL AS A POLITICAL ARGUMENT ON THE HOUSE OF COMMONS AS A WHOLE OR EVEN IN STANDING COMMITTEES DEALING WITH LEGISLATION. A SELECT COMMITTEE OPERATES IN SUCH A WAY THAT VERY OFTEN YOU DO GET A DEGREE OF CROSS-PARTY AGREEMENT, PARTICULARLY ON CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS, AND I THINK THAT THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE CONCERN AMONGST THE CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS AS WELL AS LABOUR MEMBERS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HK AND ABOUT GUARANTEEING CERTAIN RATES OF AUTONOMY FOR THE PEOPLE OF HK. SO I WOULD HOPE THAT THE COMMITTEE WOULD NOT DIVIDE ON PARTY LINES BUT WOULD TRY AND REACH SOME FORM OF CROSS-PARTY AGREEMENT AND THAT NOW, I THINK THAT MORE ATTENTION WILL BE PAID TO OUR FINDINGS NOT JUST IN HK BUT ALSO IN THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT AND IN BRITISH GOVERNMENT CIRCLES.
Q. SO WHAT CAN YOU ACTUALLY DO? CAN YOU ACTUALLY FORCE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO TAKE A PARTICLULAR LINE?
A. NO, WE CANNOT FORCE. WE CAN TRY AND RECOMMEND, WE CAN TRY AND PERSUADE, WE CAN TRY AND PRESSURISE, BUT WE HAVE NO POWERS
AS SUCH TO COMPEL THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO FOLLOW A PARTICULAR LINE OF ACTION. BUT I WOULD HOPE IF WE DO REACH CERTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON SOME EVIDENCE, AND THAT THESE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE UNANIMOUS- LY APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE, BEARING IN MIND THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS A CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY, THEN I WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE THE GOVERNMENT WOULD LISTEN TO WHAT WE HAVE GOT TO SAY AND RESPOND POSITIVELY.
WILSON
YYYY
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