TNAG-1239-FCO40-1552-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 30

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RICHARD LUCE

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FROM: R D CLIFT HKD DATE: 2 AUGUST 1983

cc: Mr Thomson, FED (with encs)

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE REFORM CLUB OF HONG KONG

1.

Wong,

Mr Jason Wong, Organising Secretary of the The Reform

Club, wrote to Mr Luce on 22 July enclosing the Club's latest

proposal on the future of Hong Kong.

2.

The Reform Club of Hong Kong is a quasi-political

organisation rather than a political party in the UK sense

(although it does have connections with the Liberal Party in

the UK). The Club contests Urban Council and District Board

elections.

B

3.

The Club have written to us on several occasions in

the past (eg about a public opinion survey which they commissioned

in Hong Kong in early 1982 on the Territory's future) and a

delegation of its members visited the UK in April 1982. They

called then on a number of MPs and came to see me on 21 April

attached (record of meeting attached).

4.

The proposals now sent to the Minister are in the form of a recent talk by the Chairman of the Reform Club, Mr Brook Bernacchi. They amount to a scheme for the ending of Hong Kong's colonial status and agreement on certain fundamental safeguards and freedoms However, as Mr Bernacchi admits, they do not tackle the question of how these would be guaranteed and they leave in the air 'Stage 2' which would cover the form which a local administration

would take.

5.

I submit a draft reply to Mr Wong. On the whole, I

recommend that this should go from you rather than from the

Although the Reform Club is a respectable organisation,

Minister.

UNCLASSIFIED

/it

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