PLEASE
CALL 2926,
2017
051334Z
REFERRED HD/HKD FOR DIST ADVICE
LNMDAN 8836
CONFIDENTIAL
DO FCOLN
HMLNAN 4669
FM HOKON TO FCOLN
05130OZ JAN
GRS 450
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 68
OF 05130OZ JANUARY 90
THANKS
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD
SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT: REQUESTS BY PRESSURE GROUPS TO MEET THE SECRETARY OF STATE
1. FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE VISIT WE ARE NOW RECEIVING A NUMBER OF REQUESTS FROM PRESSURE GROUPS FOR MEETINGS WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE. YOU WILL RECALL THAT SIR D. HOWE AND MR. FRANCIS MAUDE ARRANGED TO HAVE A SHORT MEETINGS WITH PRESSURE GROUPS DURING THEIR VISITS IN JULY AND SEPTEMBER. THIS HAS NOT/NOT BEEN THE PRACTICE DURING PREVIOUS MINISTERIAL VISITS.
2. THE GROUPS THAT HAVE SO FAR ASKED TO SEE THE SECRETARY OF STATE ARE
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(A) THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION (A PRESSURE GROUP OF COMPARATIVELY LONG STANDING WHICH WAS FORMED MANY YEARS AGO TO CONTEST URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS AND TAKES A FAIRLY MODERATE LINE ON MOST ISSUES) =
(B) THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT A (RELATIVELY NEW GROUP PRESSING FOR A FULLY DIRECTLY ELECTED LEGCO BY 1997 AND A CHIEF EXECUTIVE ELECTED THROUGH UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE) :
(C) HONG KONG PEOPLE SAVE HONG KONG CAMPAIGN (PRESSING FOR RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK FOR ALL HONG KONG RESIDENTS AND A QUICKER PACE OF DEMOCRATISATION):
(D) THE CONCERNED BRITISH EXPATRIATES SOCIETY (PRESSING FOR AUTOMATIC CITIZENSHIP FOR SPOUSES OF BRITISH CITIZENS IN HONG KONG).
3. THERE ARE SURE TO BE MORE OF SUCH REQUESTS. ALTHOUGH THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS A BUSY PROGRAMME IT WOULD PROBABLY BE FEASIBLE TO SQUEEZE IN (SAY) TWO MEETINGS WITH PRESSURE GROUPS FOR HALF AN HOUR EACH DURING THE VISIT. BUT WE NEED TO CONSIDER WHETHER THIS WOULD BE SENSIBLE. THE VISIT OF SIR G. HOWE WAS EXCEPTIONAL GIVEN THE PREVAILING MOOD AT THAT TIME. THERE WERE LARGE DEMONSTRATIONS DURING THE VISIT AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S WILLINGNESS TO MEET PRESSURE GROUPS WAS DESIGNED TO SHOW THAT HE HAD LISTENED PERSONALLY TO SOME OF THOSE DEMONSTRATING. THERE MIGHT BE ADVANTAGE IN NOT CREATING A PERMANENT PRECEDENT THAT VISITING FCO MINISTERS ARE INVARIABLY EXPECTED TO HAVE SUCH MEETINGS. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL HAVE A FAIR NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET A WIDE RANGE OF OPINION DURING HIS VISIT AND WE CAN TRY TO ENSURE
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