RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2269
OF 07090OZ JULY 89
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
HKB011 15
TOP Cor Q DIST
30
102420 MDHIAN 2344
LEGCO QUESTION ON INVITING PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT HONG KONG
1. MRS SELINA CHOW HAS PUT DOWN THE FOLLOWING QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER AT THE LEGCO MEETING ON 12 JULY 1989 ·
" WILL THE GOVERNMENT EXTEND AN INVITATION TO THE PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT HONG KONG DURING HER PLANNED VISIT TO KUALA LUMPUR IN OCTOBER TO ATTEND THE COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY HEADS MEETINGS, SO THAT SHE CAN SEE AT FIRST HAND THE MOOD IN HONG KONG, AND DEMONSTRATE TO HONG KONG HER CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO THIS TERRITORY, BEARING IN MIND HER LAST VISIT TO HONG KONG WAS ALMOST 5 YEARS AGO FOR THE SIGNING OF THE JOINT DECLARATION?''
2. WE PROPOSE TO GIVE THE FOLLOWING REPLY
''THE PRIME MINISTER AS INDEED ANY MINISTER OF THE CROWN, IS ALWAYS WELCOME TO VISIT HONG KONG AND DOES NOT NEED A SPECIFIC INVITATION TO
DO SO.
SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWERS
(A) IT IS A WELL ESTABLISHED PRINCIPLE THAT ADVICE GIVEN TO MINISTERS BY OFFICIALS IS NOT MADE PUBLIC.
(8) WE WILL ENSURE THAT THE VIEWS OF MEMBERS ON THE PROSPECT OF A
VISIT BY THE PRIME MINISTER ARE BROUGHT TO HER ATTENTION.
WILSON
YYYY
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