WOZARH
HKB 0x0/4.
PS/Lord Glenarthur
FILE
46
FROM: R Marsden
Hong Kong Department
DATE: 30 June 1989
Cc: Mr McLaren
REQUEST FROM HONG KONG BUSINESSMAN TO CALL ON LORD GLENARTHUR
Problem
A 1.
A letter from a Hong Kong businessman and journalist, Mr Walter Sulke, requesting a call on Lord Glenarthur in late June/early
July.
Recommendation
2. I recommend that Lord Glenarthur decline to see Mr Sulke but
offer a call on Mr McLaren instead. I submit a draft letter
accordingly.
Background
3. Mr Sulke is a former member of the Urban Council in Hong Kong, and a well-known political commentator. He has been an outspoken critic of the Government for some years, and writes a regular column in the "Hong Kong Standard". In his speech of 4 May to the Hong
Kong South Rotary Club, enclosed with his letter, Mr Sulke describes
Britain's attitude to the nationality problem as callous and hypocritical.
4. Mr Sulke' does not have a strong claim to be received by Lord Glenarthur since he no longer holds any official position. To agree to his request would make it difficult to refuse other similar
requests. But as Mr Sulke is a reasonably prominent political figure in Hong Kong it would be courteous to offer a meeting at official level. I understand that Mr McLaren would be prepared to take this on.