TNAG-0611-FCO40-759-Presence-of-Warsaw-Pact-countries-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 80

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Mr Murray Parliamentary Unit

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HONG KONG: PQs: MR ROBERT PARRY MP

1. Mr Robert Parry (Labour Liverpool, Scotland Exchange) has put down three Parliamentary Questions for Written Answer by the Secretary of State on 10 February. These all concern the presence, in various forms, of Warsaw Pact countries in Hong Kong.

2.

These three bring to 36 the total of Parliamentary Questions tabled on Hong Kong by Mr Parry so far this year. The remaining 33, 9 of which are for answer later this week, cover the following

topics: the Governorship of Hong Kong, the possibility of a second airport in Hong Kong, land matters in the New Territories and the Mass Transit Railway system. In contrast to his other Questions, the genesis of Mr Parry's interest in a Warsaw Pact presence in Hong Kong is unclear. It is not at present a topical question in Hong Kong and I cannot identify any interest which Mr Parry's friends in Hong Kong or his Hong Kong Chinese constituents, might have in raising it. It is clearly not in the Communist Chinese interest (or, still less, in the interest of Anglo/Chinese relations) to air these matters. It is conceivable that the Flag A misleading and muddled report in "Private Eye" for 24 December 1976

on Mr Parry's visit to Hong Kong earlier that year and on the Granada television "World in Action" programme on child labour may be relevant since the report accused the Hong Kong Government of blackening their opponents by describing them as "pro-Soviet".

3. The Soviet Union, directly or indirectly through other Warsaw Pact countries, has long sought to gain some foothold in Hong Kong. The background to its efforts in the last few years is very fully set out in a letter of 12 August last from the Political Adviser in Hong Kong, which is now in effect updated by the information the Hong Kong Government have supplied to Flag answer Mr Parry's Questions (Hong Kong telegram no. 142). The

curious fact of the Polish Consul General in London having jurisdiction in Hong Kong is explained in my letter of 30 September last to the Political Adviser, to which Hong Kong have referred

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