TNAG-1014-FCO40-1264-HM-Government-s-responsibility-for-internal-affairs-in-Hong--1981 — Page 63

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CONFIDENTIAL

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

HKK Gioli

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51 2 1 JAN1981

16 January 1981

Sir Murray MacLehes DESK OFFICER G REGISTRY Governor and Cond

HONG KONG

INDEX

n-Falei Action Taken

No /MS 21.

ANZIA

see G

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VISITS BY HONG KONG PRESSURE GROUPS TO LONDON

1. When I was in Hong Kong, we discussed the reception of these groups in London. We have looked at this carefully and submitted to Mr Blaker. We are all conscious of the fact that every case must be considered on its own merits. It is not really possible to lay down general rules for subjects which may have differing degrees of political or other sensitivity. However, with that understanding, Mr Blaker has agreed that normally he will in future only see groups accompanied by members of UMELCO or, of course, MPs; that I should see groups accompanied by Urban Councillors or people of roughly equivalent status; and that others should be seen by either the Assistant or the Head of the Hong Kong Section.

2. You suggested that, in some cases the Wanderers Association was a case in point such groups should not be seen at all. As I said at the time, this would be difficult. It could lay the Office open to the charge of closing its doors on matters for which it was constitutionally responsible and embarrass Ministers if raised in Parliament. In most cases, therefore, such groups would be seen by a member of Hong Kong and General Department but told firmly that the matter was one for the Hong Kong Government on which HMG did not intend to intervene. In the case of the Wanderers, they would be seen at working level, and I see from your Telegram No 11 that you would be content with this.

3.

You also urged that a press release be issued after such groups had been seen. f a Minister were involved, News Department could, as appropriate, react either by briefing after the call or by issuing a press release. But if the group were seen by officials, we would have to play it differently. It is not the policy to volunteer press statements about meetings with officials since, in some cases, we would not wish even to acknowledge that such a meeting had taken place.

4.

We would therefore prepare a contingency statement, to be used on the authority of the FCO in London or Hong Kong, to counter any attempt by a group to exploit a meeting in the Office. We would aim

CONFIDENTIAL

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