TNAG-1263-FCO40-1606-Parliamentary-contacts-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 206

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CONFIDENTIAL

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Secretary of State (IT

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HKG)

Mr Donald

3)HAR 1983

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(PS/Lord Belstead Je

Mr Giffard Hd/FED

Private Secretary

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: BRIEFING FOR CONSERVATIVE PARTY BACKBENCHERS

1. I understand it has been agreed that the Secretary of State should brief a small group of selected Conservative

backbenchers on Hong Kong's future.

2.

I attach:

(a)

(b)

(c)

ER (241

the current list of members of the Hong Kong Parliamentary Group;

a list of 6 Conservative MPs from that list who have a

W particular interest in or knowledge of Hong Kong and who we think would be good candidates for such a briefing. One key figure who has been omitted is

Mr Edward Heath, who was closely involved last year. If it were thought appropriate for him to be briefed

this might best be done separately;

some key Points to Make in briefing the selected MPs.

3. In drawing up the Points to Make, we have recommended as frank an approach as possible, including a reference to a possible recommendation to Parliament on sovereignty. I believe that if backbenchers are to be effectively briefed we need to

take them at least this far into our confidence. However

we have omitted any direct mention of the Prime Minister's

personal message to Premier Zhao. If the answer had been received by the time briefing took place, we might need to

reconsider this.

4.

We have not at this stage included suggestions for briefing of members of the Lords. I suggest that this should

CONFIDENTIAL

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