TNAG-0733-FCO40-937-Inquiries-on-democracy-in-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 21

Mr Murray

Parliamentary Unit

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HONG KONG : PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION: MR PARRY

1. I submit a draft reply and background note to the Parliamentary Question tabled by Mr Robert Parry MP (Labour Liverpool, Scotland Exchange) for written answer on

20 November 1978.

2. Mr Parry is well known as a critic of the Hong Kong Government and its policies. His question is very similar to an oral parliamentary question tabled by Lord Brockway in the House of Lords for reply on 22 November. The reference is to proposals put forward by 3 elected members of the Urban Council, initially in a letter to Lord Goronwy-Roberts at the end of June. Lord Goronwy-Roberts replied on 1 August to the effect that while he would welcome moves towards a more representative government, changes in this area could affect the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong, and it is therefore necessary to proceed with great

caution.

3. The councillors were evidently dissatisfied with this reply and wrote to the Secretary of State on 16 October. The top copy of this letter appears to have gone astray in the post; we have however managed to obtain a copy of it from Mr Stan Newens MP. The letter repeats the proposals in the earlier letter to Lord Goronwy-Roberts. We shall shortly be submitting a recommendation that the Secretary of State should maintain the line taken by Lord Gorony-Roberts. The fact is that this is not the right time to introduce innovations which might be misinterpreted by

the Chinese.

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