TNAG-1263-FCO40-1606-Parliamentary-contacts-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 51

Mr Clift, HKD

CONFIDENTIAL

Eatin I have replied

D121

HB Warre

12/12

ash

8 December 1983

FROM:

DATE:

MKK040|16.

RECEIVER AN NCOISTA

cc:

PS

ALLU 1923

Aprior

PS/PUS

Mr Giffard

Mr Donald

HONG KONG:

1.

2.

3.

BRIEFING OF BACK BENCHERS

It may be helpful if I set out where we stand on this.

The present situation is as follows:-

i)

ii)

Conservative Back Bench MPs

We now have a list of some 20 names (copy attached) of people who would be interested;

Opposition Back Bench MPs

The principle that they should be offered the same facilities as Conservative Back Benchers now appears to be generally accepted, On timing, however, it might be better to wait until No 10 have given clearance of briefing on Privy Counsellor terms of Opposition leaders.

In these circumstances, Mr Luce's instinct is that we should hold over all briefings of Back Benchers on the background to Hong Kong until after the Christmas recess. Provided that we can get the notice out to Opposition leaders before Parliament breaks up for Christmas, we should by the middle of January have a fair idea of the total numbers involved, and could then proceed.

4.

In preparation for this, Mr Luce would welcome your advice on the best tactical approach for managing these meetings. In particular, he would welcome your comments on:

i)

ii)

size of meetings (he assumes it would be better to keep them small);

setting up arrangements (would the best thing to be to send round a general letter to all MPs who have said that they were interested, giving a series of dates on which briefings would be held and asking them to get directly in touch with you to register themselves?);

CONFIDENTIAL

/iii)

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