TNAG-1372-FCO40-1818-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 143

GRS 1300

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 17090OZ FCO

TELNO 2208

OF 18051OZ OCTOBER 85

CONFIDENTIAL

ALTOP

FOLLOWING FOR GALSWORTHY, HONG KONG DEPARTMENT

FROM GOVERNOR

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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

2 1 OCT 1985

DESK OFFICER

INDIEX

MIPT: DRAFT OF A STEERING BRIEF FOR MR RENTON'S VISIT.

1. MR RENTON WILL VISIT HONG KONG, ARRIVING ON SUNDAY, 27 OCTOBER AND LEAVING ON THE MORNING OF THURSDAY 31 OCTOBER.

OBJECTS OF THE VISIT

2. THE OBJECTS OF THE VISIT ARE TO ENABLE MR RENTON

(A) TO MEET A WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG AND HEAR

THEIR VIEWS ON CURRENT ISSUES:

PA

(B) TO ATTEND THE OPENING OF THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSION WITH ELECTED MEMBERS AND IN ITS NEW BUILDING (THE FORMER SUPREME

COURT):

(C) TO DISCUSS MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE GOVERNOR, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, AND SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

3. IN GENERAL MR RENTON WILL FIND THAT PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WILL BE

SEEKING REASSURANCE ABOUT HMG'S COMMITMENT TO THE TERRITORY UP TO

1997 AND THAT IT WILL NOT LOSE INTEREST THEREAFTER. THEY WILL LOOK

FOR SIGNS THAT HMG WILL STRIKE THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN CONSULTING

THE CHINESE ON MAJOR ISSUES, WHILE STANDING UP TO THE CHINESE IN

DEFENCE OF HONG KONG'S INTERESTS AND AVOIDING EROSION OF THE

PRINCIPLE THAT UP TO 1997 THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG IS HMG'S

RESPONSIBILITY. THERE IS ANXIETY THAT, THE JOINT DECLARATION HAVING BEEN SIGNED, THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG WILL BE GIVEN REDUCED PRIORITY IN MINISTERS' ATTENTION. THERE IS CONTINUING CONCERN ON PARTICULAR ISSUES SUCH AS ON NATIONALITY AND PASSPORT QUESTIONS

(SEE BELOW).

4. APART FROM DISCUSSION WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SENIOR OFFICIALS, MR RENTON'S MAIN MEETING OF SUBSTANCE WILL BE WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (EXCO). THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ADVISES THE GOVERNOR ON ALL MAJOR ISSUES OF POLICY AND, ALTHOUGH TECHNICALLY THE GOVERNOR

HAS THE RIGHT TO REJECT THEIR ADVICE, IN PRACTICE HE DOES NOT

DO SO AND A DECISION ON SUCH ISSUES IS TAKEN DURING THE COUNCIL

/MEETINGS

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