TNAG-0677-FCO40-826-Representation-of-Hong-Kong-at-Commonwealth-Law-Ministers--M-1977 — Page 2

HKK 371/502/1

JW D Hobley Esq

Attorney-General

HONG KONG

LAST

い

치

20 July 1977

☺

HONG KONG REPRESENTATION: COMMONWEALTH LAW MINISTERS' MEETING

1.

You wrote to me on 3 June asking about the possibility of your attending the Commonwealth Law Ministers' meeting in Winnipeg in August.

2. We put forward your suggestion, but unfortunately the Lord Chancellor feels that if Hong Kong were included in the British delegation he would be obliged to invite the Law Officers (or their equivalents) from other dependent territories. The Home Office would also have to invite the Attornies-General of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. The upshot would be a delegation of unmanageable proportions.

3. I am sorry at this outcome. I understand that the question of Law Ministers of dependent territories participating in future meetings may be discussed after the Winnipeg conference but I fear that is no comfort at this stage.

Cc:

DJ Hollamby (CCD)

A B Stewart