TNAG-0438-FCO40-503-Visits-of-UK-Members-of-Parliament--to-Hong-Kong-including-v-1974 — Page 24

SECRET

4.

The point is that whether they accept the role or not, the public in Hong Kong, including Unofficial Members of the Hong Kong Government, regard visiting MPs as the spokesmen of the sovereign Parliament. They will be tackled on the whole range of UK/Hong Kong questions and their answers will be regarded as authoritative. Unwise statements or guesses about the Defence Review from MPs in Hong Kong would not be much less damaging than Ministerial indiscretion.

Yours ever

Androw Stran

A C Stuart

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Dept.

CC

R Murgatroyd Esq

PS/PUSS for Defence for the RAF

Silent

copies: Sir D. Watsa

Mr

Male

:

SECRET

PA

419