CONFIDENTIAL
HKB
011/3
M
194
052066
MDHIAN 7399
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 20090OZ FCO
TELNO 946
OF 20075OZ MARCH 89
مقاله
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INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, BTC HONG KONG
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YRTELNOS 673 AND 674:
PROGRAMME FOR FAC VISIT TO HONG KONG, 17-22 APRIL
1. WE FEEL THAT THE LIST OF POSSIBLE WITNESSES FOR THE FORMAL EVIDENCE SESSIONS SUGGESTED BY THE COMMITTEE CLERKS HAS CONCENTRATED TOO HEAVILY ON FUTURE-RELATED ISSUES, SUCH AS THE BASIC LAW AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THERE IS A NEED TO BE MORE BALANCED. SPECIFIC COMMENTS WHICH FOLLOW HAVE BEEN MADE WITH THE ABOVE IN MIND:
(A) WE WOULD CONSIDER THE CHOICE OF HKG OFFICIALS WHEN THE LIST OF TOPICS FOR THE FORMAL EVIDENCE SESSION IS CONFIRMED AFTER THE FORMAL SESSIONS THE COMMITTEE HAVE WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE GOVERNOR ON 22 MARCH. WE THINK THAT IT WOULD BE IMPRACTICABLE FOR OFFICIALS TO BE SEEN INDIVIDUALLY AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO WORK AS A TEAM. WE, THEREFORE, PREFER A TEAM OF OFFICIALS LED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO GIVE EVIDENCE FOR EACH OF THE SELECTED TOPICS.
(B) WE AGREE WITH YOUR COMMENTS ON THE INVOLVEMENT OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF LEGCO. PROMINENT INDIVIDUALS WOULD BE THE TWO SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, DAME LYDIA DUNN AND ALLEN LEE. MARTIN LEE, MARIA TAM AND STEPHEN CHEONG WOULD REPRESENT DIVERGENT POLITICAL VIEWS. THEY ARE ALSO SAID TO BE KEEN TO SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF POLITICAL GROUPINGS. ON THE OTHER HAND, ANDREW WONG MAY GIVE INDEPENDENT VIEWS. APART FROM POLITICAL ISSUES, JOHN SWAINE AND RITA FAN WOULD BE GOOD CANDIDATES TO SPEAK ON NATIONALITY AND VBP PROBLEMS, RESPECTIVELY. WE BELIEVE THAT SOME UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF LEGCO MAY VOLUNTEER TO COME FORWARD TO GIVE FORMAL EVIDENCE. CLEARLY THIS IS PREFERABLE. WE'LL BE IN A BETTER POSITION TO ADVISE
FURTHER IN ABOUT A WEEK'S TIME.
(C) 9 PROFESSIONAL BODIES COVERING THE LEGAL, MEDICAL, DENTAL, SURVEY, PLANNING, ARCHITECTURAL, ENGINEERING AND ACCOUNTANCY FIELDS ARE PREPARING A JOINT SUBMISSION AND WILL ASK FOR A MEETING WITH FAC IN HONG KONG. THEIR LEADER IS EDWARD HO. FAC'S MEETING WITH THIS
GROUP IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED.
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