TNAG-1028-FCO40-1278-Visits-by-Members-of-Parliament-to-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 57

For Information

on 28.4.81

機密

PA

CONFIDENTIAL **

:

нскогорь

0266

KALYA A. ROASTILY NO. 51

INDLY

2 3 APR 1981

REGISTRY

1-

nction Taken

Note for Executive Council

28

Visits by Members of Parliament – 1981- 82

27.4

XCCI(81)16 29

Copy No...

Introduction

On 29 February 1980, an information paper was put to Members (XCCI(80)7) on the proposed visits by Members of Parliament in 1980/81. It was proposed that, as in previous years, a total of 8 Members of Parliament (4 Conservative, 4 Labour) should be invited to visit Hong Kong. Two Conservatives were the first to be invited, for the Whit. Recess. It was noted that consideration was being given to inviting Mr. David Steel, the Leader of the Liberal Party, but Members were to be informed of this visit at a later date.

Visits During 1980/81

2

In the event, the Hong Kong Government sponsored the visits of

two pairs of Conservative Members of Parliament :-

3

(a) Mr. K. Hampson and Mr. D. Hunt,

from 24th May to 2nd June 1980

(b) Mr. T. Sainsbury and Mr. J. Wakeham,

from 4th October to 13th October 1980

A short list of influential Labour Party MPs was drawn up in consultation with the Commissioner, London. An invitation to come to Hong Kong was extended to Mr. Roy Hattersley. While accepting the offer in principle, Mr. Hattersley has unfortunately not been able to find the time to come for a full sponsored visit. This was due primarily to the importance which Labour MPs attached first to attending the Labour Party conference towards the end of the Parliamentary Summer Recess, and later to the discussions within the Labour Party during the Christmas Recess which led to the change in the system of electing the party leader on 23 January. Mr. Steel also has been unable to find the time for a full sponsored visit to Hong Kong. Such visits normally last for 8 - 10 days.

4

The opportunity was however taken by the Hong Kong Government to invite two Members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Nationality Bill to visit Hong Kong before the Committee started its deliberations. Mr. R. Whitney and Mr. E. Lyons visited Hong Kong from 11 to 16 February.

C.S. 166

CONFIDENTIAL

"

機密