17 AUG 10
185
From:
A R Paul
Hong Kong Department
Date:
16 August 1989
HKD 30111
Mr Gillmore
Id Tinnute
int
PS/Mr Maude
Private Secretary
нко
SUNDAY TIMES BREAKFAST FORUM
:
A
1.
Identical letters from Ms Sarah Smith of Granard Rowland
Communications inviting the Secretary of State and Mr Maude to join
the panel of speakers at the Sunday Times Breakfast Forum "Passports
and Promises: is Britain really standing by Hong Kong?" How should
they respond?
Recommendation
2.
I recommend that the Secretary of State and Mr Maude decline
the invitation. I submit a draft reply.
Argument
3.
A forum of this sort is almost certainly going to focus on
the right of abode issue. The majority of the audience are likely
to be in favour of a generous response by HMG. I see little
advantage,
attend.
4.
and some risks, if Mr Maude were to
The forum is in any case taking place at a sensitive time
(the eve of the Prince of Wales' visit) and we do not yet know
whether the nationality package will have been announced by then.
Hiliam
A R Paul