TNAG-1263-FCO40-1606-Parliamentary-contacts-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 59

CONFIDENTIAL

MEETING BETWEEN SECRETARY OF STATE AND MR ROBERT ADLEY MP,

30 NOVEMBER 1983

Present

The Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Howe QC MP

Mr R D Clift

Mr Robert Adley MP

Attitude of Hong Kong Government to Mr Adley

a

1. Mr Adley said that he was concerned about the attitude of a

number of people in the Hong Kong Government. He had never been

received anywhere, let alone in a British colony, in so hostile a

way. On the earlier attempt to "blacken his character" he had shown

Mr Luce the letter which he had received from Miss Jill Hartley, former lobby correspondent. The Secretary of State said that he had

raised the matter with the Governor who had investigated it

carefully. But he understood that the letter from Miss Hartley had

not identified her informant. That made it very difficult to pursue

the question.

2.

Mr Adley said that there had been other examples of the hostile

attitude of the Hong Kong Government. The Ming Pao, a reputable newspaper, had told him that they had been asked by the Government

Information Services for information about Mr Adley. Moreover the

Attorney General, Sir Michael Havers had told him that he had

received enquiries about him. In his discussions with Hong Kong

officials he had been particularly concerned at the attitude adopted

by Mr Denis Bray, the Secretary for Home Affairs.

3.

Some of the Hong Kong Government's attitude was reflected in

the way in which local press had handled the visit. The South China

Morning Post had been particularly hostile. He had been amazed at

the attention which his visit had aroused. He had been followed

everywhere by television cameras and asked a succession of

completely naive questions.

Attitude of UMELCO

4.

Mr Adley said that he was convinced that UMELCO did not