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(d) Assessment Report. Mr Luce explained that the Secretary of
State was keen for the White Paper to be published on
29 November, if possible, so that MPs et al could consider it over the weekend before the debate. You agreed to pursue this with the printers and with the HK Government. If publication could not be brought forward to 29 November, advance copies could perhaps be given to selected MPs on that date, together with a warning that the document was embargoed until publication; I understand from Parliamentary Unit, however, that there may be problems about doing more than giving selected members copies of the Final Revise the day before actual publication. Mr Luce said he would consult Sir P Blaker about briefing MPs on the contents of the Assessment Report. A drinks party between publication and the debate might be appropriate.
(e) HK White Paper on Further Development of Representative
Government. To be published on 21 November. An inspired PQ would be used to draw the House's attention to its publication, while the HK Government Office would circulate copies. In substance, the White Paper should go down well, since it went further than the Green Paper on democracy.
(f) UMELCO Visit. It was not yet clear on which points UMELCO would concentrate during their visit. Reports of a UMELCO manifesto were a little worrying - though the Unofficials had said they would commend the Agreement. MF's would need briefing on the line to take with UMELCO once the latter's intentions were clearer.
(g) UMELCO/Home Office. Sir Paul Bryan had sought a meeting for
the UMELCO delegation with Mr Waddington. The Governor of HK had ascertained that UMELCO were not seeking such a meeting. Sir P Bryan is being informed accordingly, and assured that the UMELCO delegation is being received at an appropriate senior Ministerial level. I have agreed with Mr Waddington's PS that if he comes under pressure to see the Unofficials while they are here, he will offer to sit in on their meeting with Mr Luce, rather than see them on his own.
(h) Article for Parliament's House Magazine. Mr Luce decided
that he would like to take up the House Magazine's
suggestion of an article for publication on the Friday before the HK debate. You kindly agreed to prepare a A Pool: dubling. I draft, for submission to the Magazine no later than
Wednesday, 28 November, reminding MPs of the advantages of the Agreement, but not saying anything new which would anticipate the Secretary of State's speech in the debate.
CONFIDENTIAL
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