CODE 18-77
Mr Ricketts
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Reference
54
LINKS BETWEEN PARLIAMENT AND LEGCO
1.
I spoke to Mr George Cube, Clerk of the House of Commons Overseas Office, yesterday. He told me Mrs Shelley Lau, Secretary General of Omelco, had been to see him recently. (The Overseas Office has had quite a bit to do with Omelco members in recent years). On this occasion Mrs Lau had brought a request from Mr John Swaine, Deputy President of LegCo, asking if Mr Cubie could provide someone to help LegCo to revamp its structures and procedures and generally give them advice. Mr Cubic had said he could not spare someone for a year (which was originally suggested) but would be able to find someone who could go out to Hong Kong for 2-3 months. But he would need the request to be in writing. The matter rests there.
2.
I said that in general we had, as he knew, encouraged contacts between LegCo and Parliament, particularly since last year when the development of political parties in Hong Kong had necessitated different ways of working in LegCo.
But, given the extreme sensitivity with which the Chinese now view LegCo and all its works, we would not want the hand of Westminster to be too prominent, or for it to look as if we were taking the lead in setting up new structures,
(particularly Standing Committees). Mr Cubie took all these points and said he would let us know what developed.
3. I assume John Swaine will keep the Governor in the picture?
K. Saunder
KAM Saunders
Hong Kong Department
WH 311 270 3544
4 November 1992
par.leg.PR
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