TNAG-1028-FCO40-1278-Visits-by-Members-of-Parliament-to-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 69

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GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT

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4 May 1981

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VISIT TO HONG KONG OF MR DAVID STEEL

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Alan Scott, the Secretary for Information, is already sending a note to you and David Ford about the David Steel visit. As you will see from that we had some problems although, in the end, they seemed to go away satisfied (as well they might considering the amount of extra arrangements and payments we finally agreed to make for them).

2. There is one point I wish to pick up. The moment I met him, Lord Tanlaw buttonholed me about what had been said to him by Ke Hua (then still in Peking) about our mistreatment of Chinese nationals transitting Hong Kong. He complained bitterly that he had not been briefed that such a subject might arise. I gave him, and later David Steel, a very full briefing on the whole background to the problem as we saw it, and explained that I could well imagine why it had not been included in a general briefing since one would not expect Chinese leaders to raise such a minor, technical issue with the leader of the Liberal Party.

3. Ke Hua is apprently a personal friend of Lord Tanlaw and, more particularly, of his Malaysian/Chinese wife who is a tiresome, emotional, handful. Lord Tanlaw was anxious, despite all his complaints, that the discussion with Ke Hua should not become part of the official exchanges. I told him, however, that

I thought he should tell Ke that he had passed on what was said

I also in Hong Kong and let Ke know what I had said in reply. said that, if he required up to date briefing on the subject before next seeing the Chinese Ambassador in London, I was sure that you or Robin McLaren would be able to helpOne other point. At his final press conference David Steel was inevitably asked about the future. Although he had told both the Governor and myself he had not discussed the subject in Peking, you will see from the attached verbatim record that he claims he did discuss it 'although not at the highest level'. I assume that there may

CONFIDENTIAL

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