TNAG-0940-FCO40-1159-Visits-by-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Ministers-and-officials-t-1980 — Page 48

CODE 18-77

SS 8/78

Reference

Mr Morice

Mr Cufton

J

agree

You will

wat everythy or within says,

Aamal weil Mr Gard

30011

HKK

INFORMATION WORK ON BRITAIN IN HONG KONG

RECEIVED IN REG. VILY HO. 51

folio.

10 OCT 1980

фи

12/1

1. Mr Scott's letter at folio 14 of 21 August is very disappoint- ing and I agree with Mir Clift that we should take it up again, probably when he visits Hong-Köng-in November,

منا

& 14.0

AWT4 he

2. I cannot agree with the Governor that there are already suffi- cient channels of liaison on issues which are likely to be of Parliamentary interest, or at least that they function. The only channel we have at the moment is the Hong Kong newspapers. We do not get reports on MPs visits, a fecund source of MPs letters and FQs. I am not suggesting a factual report but something along

the lines of:

"When Mr X MP was in Hong Kong he said he would raise the following issues: A, B and C. The backgrounds to these

are:

A

3.

B

C"

We learn Urban Councillors are coming to this country to raise certain subjects silence from Hong Kong, although the current visit of Hans Litz is an exception.

A

4.

The main point is that Hong Kong always wait to be asked and I just do not believe that Secretaries and Heads of Departments are aware of Farliamentary susceptibilities in the way that we need them to be.

5.

It would, for instance, have been very useful if we had had a full and frank account of the MacLennan affair as soon as UK interest became apparent. We could still do with one on the Kai Tak incident Incidentally, I don't think that SBTC could help in this area.

6. On the question of putting over UK's point of view in Hong Kong, this is more difficult, particularly since we cannot offer to pay.

But the suggested solution is simply not enough; there needs to be a man on the spot.

7. Clearly Hong Kong do not realise that our proposal is designed to help them as much as us.

8. I have discussed this briefly with Mr Ford who would welcome an opportunity to discuss with us.

9 September 1980

Ənickeilenum

P J Williamson

Hong Kong and General Department