CONFIDENTIAL
2
carries out six-monthly visits (when he is available to meet MPs etc) and, more to the point, some twenty MPs have visited Hong Kong this year, a number of them at the Hong Kong Government's expense. Now that the Planning Paper has been agreed between HMG and Hong Kong Government, there is no serious dispute over policy. There seem, therefore, to be no good reasons why some new type of organised visit by MPs should be arranged.
LINE TO TAKE
7.
The Minister of State may wish to tell Sir Murray of Mr Johnson's proposal and to say that he is satisfied that a special visit by a group of MPs is not necessary at the present time. Instead, he might suggest that if Mr Johnson (and Mr Ford, MP, who accompanied Mr Johnson when he called on Lord Goronwy-Roberts) raise the matter again, they should be invited to visit Hong Kong, perhaps at the Hong Kong Government's expense. Neither MP has been to Hong Kong this year, the last few months of which have seen the announcement of plans for considerable progress in all fields in Hong Kong. The Minister might also seek the Governor's agreement in principle to option (c) against the possibility that pressure might build up for a parliamentary group visit.
CONFIDENTIAL
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.