TNAG-0588-FCO40-721-Publications-on-Hong-Kong-affairs-in-UK-Fabian-Society-pamph-1976 — Page 66

CONFIDENTIAL

- 3-

The appointment of a Select Committee on Hong Kong might also create an unwelcome precedent in respect of other dependent territories, though I appreciate that Hong Kong could be regarded as a "special case" in this es in a number of other respects.

8.

The Hong Kong Government have expressed the hope that we will feel able to say, in response to any enquiries, that HMG sees no need for a Commission of Inquiry. I think that we should do so. I assume it would not be appropriate for us to express a view, at least in the first instance, on the appointment of a House of Commons Select Committee. However, by opposing the recommendations of a Commission of Inquiry, which the pamphlet sees as the first step towards a Select Committee, we would imply that we had serious reservations about it.

9. I recommend that News Department should guided, if necessary, by the Hong Kong Government's draft press release and comments

on the recommendations in the pamphlet and that, if asked, should say that HMG sees no need for a Commission of Inquiry.

D.F. Meille

D F MILTON

Hong Kong and Indian Ocean

Department

23 January 1976

Cc:

PS/PUS

Mr Bentley, FED

Mr McNally

Mr Attewell, News Dept

OLA

lague.

For what it is watt, to-day's Times

reports

now-cocage now cocage by the

Honę

Kang Chencre Кая

Слышалий

Communcit press,

with at the record

bricking by Camarcent

Chericre

that'

demands for increased self. govenmar

"Trotskyite nonsense"

CONFIDENTIAL

Руское

I pay

261