GK
500
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 260730Z
FM TOKYO 26054OZ APR
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 330 OF 26 APR 84
CONFIDENTAL
FOLLOWING FRON PRIVATE SECRETARY FOR PS/MR LUCE
KONG TELNO 233: HONG KONG: TINING OF DEBATE
MKK090131
27 APR 1984
1. AS YOU KNOW FROM OUR TELEPHONE CONVERSATION EARLIER TODAY, MR BIFFEN TELEPHONED THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT YOUR TIME. HE SAID THAT THE PROGRAMME OF BUSINESS FOR THE HOUSE NEXT WEEK, WHICH DID NOT INCLUDE PROVISION FOR A DEBATE ON HONG KONG, HAD ALREADY BEEN PUT TO THE OPPOSITION, AND THAT IT WOULD NOW BE VERY DIFFICULT TO ALTER. HE ALSO ARGUED THAT FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE IT MADE MOST SENSE TO CONCENTRATE NEXT
WEEK ON THE FINANCE BILL.
2. THE SECRETARY OF STATE EXPRESSED CONSIDERABLE SURPRISE THAT TIME FOR A HONG KONG DEBATE HAD NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAMME FOR NEXT WEEK. HE RECALLED THAT HE HAD DISCUSSED THIS SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE CHIEF WHIP BEFORE LEAVING LONDON. HIS UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT THE BUSINESS MANAGERS HAD ACCEPTED THE IDEA OF A DEBATE IN THE HOUSE IN THE WEEK BECINNING 30 APRIL. ON THAT BASIS HE HAD SPOKEN PUBLICLY TO HONG KONG ABOUT AN EARLY DEBATE. A FURTHER FORTNIGHT'S DELAY WOULD BE EXTREMELY UNWELCOME IN THE LIGHT OF THOSE PUBLIC STATEMENTS. HE THEREFORE PRESSED MR BIFFEN STRONGLY TO FIND TIME FOR A HONG KONG DEBATE ON EITHER 2 OR 3 MAY. HE WAS OBLIGED TO CUT THE CONVERSATION SHORT IN ORDER TO LEAVE FOR A CALL ON THE JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER AND SAID THAT HE WOULD ASK MR LUCE TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSIONS ON HIS BEHALF. WE SHALL REINFORCE THE POINT BY SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO ROBIN BUTLER IN NO 10 EARLY THIS MORNING
YOUR TIME.
GIFFARD
пов
كلة
46
LIMITED
HD/HRD
FED
PARLIAMENTARY UNIT
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR
RIFKIND
PS/MR LUCE
PS/MR
WHITNEY
AS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
DR
WILSON
CONFIDENTAL
Page 75Page 76
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