TNAG-1295-FCO40-1650-Visits-by-members-of-the-Office-of-the-Unofficial-Members-of-1984 — Page 127

CONFIDENTIAL

BACKGROUND

1.

Mr Parry regularly asks questions about Hong Kong. His interests appear to be in the future of Hong Kong and the extension of popular participation in the Government of the Territory. He has shown particular interest in the visits by UMELCO delegations to London and Peking.

2. A delegation of Unofficial members of Hong Kong ́s Executive Council visited Peking from 21-25 June at the invitation of the Hồng Kong branch of the New China News Agency. The purpose of their visit was to explain to Chinese leaders their understanding of the concerns of the people of Hong Kong. They had meetings with Chairman Deng Xiaoping and State Councillor Ji Pengfei. The Governor of Hong Kong has described the visit as a very useful one.

3. The delegation made proposals which would in their view enhance the confidence of the people of Hong Kong in their future. These proposals were that:

a) any Sino-British agreement must be detailed and binding and

it should contain a provision stipulating that the basic law will be based on the terms of the agreement.

b)

c)

Basic Law should be drafted in Hong Kong by representatives of Hong Kong people and representatives from Peking and,

the

Л

a committee consisting of Chinese people of international standing and reputation should be appointed by China with the responsibility of negociating or advising the drafting and implementation of, and any subsequent amendments to the

Basic Law.

According to UMELCO ́s report released to the press after the visit, of the three proposals, the Chinese leaders appeared to have accepted the first one and expressed a willingness to consider the other two. We consider it best not to refer to the proposals in the reply; any implication that the British government were somehow behind them would not make them any more acceptable to the Chinese. UMELCO were not expressing, nor did they claim to be expressing, the official view of the Hong Kong government.

4. The reply has been agreed by Hong Kong and Peking.

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CONFIDENTIAL