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Reference
B.
6.1
D.!
A.
Mr Mortis Mr Paul
I have suggested some avondments to talks account.
of our researches and Hd/FED's comments: 1/5 But we cannot finalise this letter until m furbates (Hd/PRK) returns.
PARLIAMENTARY VISITS: IPU DELEGATION TO PYONGYANG
1.
The reason we did not provide any briefing on PADS for this latest IPU delegation is that, like the Governor, we had no idea that members would be stopping off in Hong Kong and Peking en route. As you will see from the attached commissioning minute from PRU, no mention is made of this proposed visit, and the minute specifically suggests that what was required an updated version of the briefing provided for the previous IPU conference, ie a general brief on Hong Kong, concentrating on issues like Democracy, Nationality and Human Rights.
2.
Two telegrams (attached) went out after the closing date for the briefing exercise, from which it could have been deduced that some members of the delegation were visiting Peking. In a perfect world we might have picked this up and offered additional briefing on PADS, but (i) we were very busy on other tasks with tight deadlines to meet, (ii) it seemed obvious that the delegation was going to be given a briefing by the Embassy in Peking and (iii) we were not, in all the circumstances, keen to talk about PADS more than we had to. Ideally, they might have been given one or two defensive lines-to-take, but were they not given an up-to-date briefing by the Embassy in Peking?
I attach a short draft to cover this point for a reply to Richard Hoare.
3.
CODE 18-77
K. Saunders
KAM Saunders (Miss)
WH311
270 3544
1 May 1991
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VAS