TNAG-0427-FCO40-492-Proposed-constitutional-advancement-of-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 49

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aspect of policy towards, or expenditure on, the

dependent territories which could not legitimately be enquired into by the second or third Committee already' mentioned if it had a mind to do so.

CONCLUSIONS ·

8. It is submitted that, for the reasons set out in paragraphs 5-7 above, a specialist Select Committee on the Future of the Dependent Territories, if appointed,

i.

ii.

would not be a "watchdog" committee in the sense in which the Select Committee on the Nationalised Industries can be so described;

would be an additional burden on FCO Ministers;

iii. could expect that it would be denied a wide range of

official information because that was confidential;

would consequently run the risk of having in practice such a narrow field of enquiry that its reports would not long command the interest of the House.

iv.

9. If the above conclusions, which are provisional until Ministers have had their discussion, are anywhere near right, it may be that Ministers will wish to look elsewhere for a Parliamentary body to which they can speak in confidence about the future of the dependent territories and be assured of a well-informed and interested audience. A Parliamentary Group might meet this requirement.

RECOMMENDATION

10. It is recommended that the Minister should propose to Mr Ennals, whose office has a copy of this submission, that it be used as a basis for their forthcoming discussion.

11. Mr Larmour, the Departments of the Dependent Territories Division, Hong Kong Department and the PCCU/concur.

cur.

22 May 1974

GP Scott MA 401

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