TNAG-1317-FCO40-1720-Future-of-Hong-Kong-meetings-of-the-Cabinet-Defence-and-Over-1984 — Page 136

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But the most significant point was that there was a rare display of unanimity on both sides of the House in support of the Government's handling of the talks. As Mr Walden noted, many of the speeches had a valedictory flavour. Recognition of the achievements of Hong Kong was balanced

by agreement that mass immigration into the UK could not

be countenanced. Almost no-one attempted to embarrass the Government by raising the pointed questions in the UMELCO statement. Most of those who spoke preferred to pursue the subject of democratic development, which was not an important part of the UMELCO statement (although it was, of course, the clarion call of the Ding delegation).

5.

The conclusion that UMELCO may draw from this is that while they managed to express to MPS concerns that are widely felt in Hong Kong, they did not succeed in persuading them that the questions they had raised were so fundamental as to demand a reconsideration of HMG's

approach to the talks. The initial reaction of observers in Hong Kong to the debate showed that this point has been clearly appreciated there (Hong Kong telno 1378).

6.

There seems little doubt that UMELCO's visit has boosted their prestige in Hong Kong and has given greater authority to their position as reflectors (if not representatives) of local views. It could have two possible effects on their relations with HMG and on the attitudes

of the people of Hong Kong. On the one hand, the realisation that there is no real possibility of mobilising parliamentary support against HMG's approach could lead the Unofficials to a greater degree of realism, to a recognition that certain objectives (eg a residual British presence after 1997) are not attainable and that

the only realistic approach is to attempt to make the best deal possible within the general limits of the Chinese proposals. If the Unofficials accepted this view and felt it was their duty to explain it to the Hong Kong

people, they could do much to influence public opinion in

a constructive direction.

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