CODE 18 - 77
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NOTE FOR THE FILE
CONFIDENTIAL
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HONG KONG: VISIT BY DELEGATION FROM THE HEUNG YEE KUK ETC
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I should record that when I cleared FCO telegram No 208 to Hong Kong with Mr Kidd, he told me that one reason why Sir Paul Bryan did not wish to arrange for the Heung Yee Kuk delegation to meet the Anglo-Hong Kong Parliamentary Group was that he was not sure that he (Sir Paul) could "control" such a meeting. is concerned, according to Mr Kidd, that Mr Robert Parry MP though not an official member of the Group, might turn up with a number of MPs who are hostile to Hong Kong and embarrass the Kuk delegation. Alternatively, there was a risk that the "pro" Hong Kong lobby might turn up in force and give the delegation a misleading impression of Parliamentary opinion towards Hong Kong. In the worst case, both sides might be fully represented and a meeting could turn into a slanging match between the two.
2. Mr Kidd commented that Sir Paul Bryan's remarks did not show him up as a forceful chairman of the Anglo-Hong Kong Group. At the same time, Sir Paul had said that if the Hong Kong Government do attach particular importance to the Kuk delegation meeting members of his Group, he would probably be prepared to arrange a social occasion at his home for this purpose. Sir Paul has arranged matters this way before, especially when there has been too little notice of the arrival of an important visitor from Hong Kong. Mr Kidd recalled that during the past year or so Sir Paul Bryan has arranged drinks parties/meals for members of his Group to meet, for example, the Commissioner of Police, the Director of Commerce and Industry and the Commissioner of the ICAC. The next step so far as the Kuk delegation is concerned is to await Hong Kong's reply to our telegram (I have already said to Mr Kidd that I should not be surprised if Hong Kong take the view that it is more important for the Anglo-Hong Kong Parliamentary Group to meet the Kuk delegation than either the Urban Council delegation or Mr F K Li).
3. Mr Kidd confessed that he did not find it easy to work with Sir Paul Bryan but that he had to do his best since the Governor, as we knew, thinks highly of Sir Paul. If developments at Westminster this week should result in a new Parliament being elected Sir Paul Bryan would stand down as Chairman. Mr Kidd said that Sir Anthony Royle MP wanted to take over the chairmanship (or, rather, resume it since he has been Chairman before) but that Sir Paul Bryan was hoping to arrange for Sir John Eden MP to take his place.
23 March 1977
D.F. Millon
D F Milton
Hong Kong Department
CONFIDENTIAL
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