TNAG-0568-FCO40-701-Planning-paper-on-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 239

Mr Male

Parliamentary Unit

PQ ON HONG KONG: REVIEW OF HMG'S POLICY

1.

Mr John Watkinson (Labour, West Gloucestershire) has put down

a question for oral answer by the Secretary of State on 18 February, asking if HMG intends to review its policy towards Hong Kong. I understand that the Secretary of State is top for Questions on that day and Mr Watkinson's is the first for answer. The Parliamentary Unit have asked for a draft reply and supplementaries by noon today.

2. As with a number of other current PQs on Hong Kong, it seems likely that Mr Watkinson's question has been inspired by the recent Fabian Society pamphlet on Hong Kong. This pamphlet makes a number of recommendations, including the general one that HMG should adopt a more active policy in respect of Hong Kong.

3. The broad aim of HMG's policy is clear enough. It is to administer Hong Kong in the interests of those who have chosen to live there. How this aim is best achieved is a matter which is kept under review. This is particularly so at the present time, in view of the Secretary of State's visit to Hong Kong in early May. More specifically, we are looking into all aspects of our policy on Hong Kong in a planning paper for the PUS's Planning Committee. However,

I do not think we should answer Mr Watkinson's question with a

straightforward affirmative statement since that would invite

speculation about the outcome of a policy review.

4. It seems likely that the supplementaries may range over other matters arising from the Fabian Society pamphlet, imports of Hong Kong textiles (though Mr Watkinson's constituency would not appear to be one which is directly affected) and, possibly, Anglo-Chinese relations in the contextof Hong Kong. There are also a number of other current and perennial issues concerning Hong Kong which might be raised. This makes for a larger number of possible supplementaries than would usually be the case.

15.