TNAG-1379-FCO40-1827-Future-of-Hong-Kong-legislation-Hong-Kong-Bill-1985 — Page 229

CONFIDENTIAL

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The Bill does not deal with the question of who will sit on the

Joint Liaison Group.

During the parliamentary debate on the

include Unofficial Members of the

agreement there was pressure to

Hong Kong Executive and Legislative Councils on the Group. We took the line that Hong Kong Government officials would sit on the Group,

and that we would consult fully with Unofficials in Hong Kong, but

that this was a diplomatic body and i t would not be appropriate for

Unofficials to sit

to sit on it. We can expect pressure for Unofficials to

sit on the Group to continue, although strictly speaking it is not

relevant to the Bill.

We might also face questions about the work of the Joint Liaison

Group, and its influence on the administration of Hong Kong. The

working procedures of the Joint Liaison Group remain to be discussed

with the Chinese. The agreement makes clear, however, that the Joint Liaison Group is not an organ of power and will play no part in Hong Kong's administration.

Another suggestion made during the Parliamentary debate was that

Parliament should hold an annual debate on the work of the Joint

Liaison Group. Ministers took the line then and on subsequent

occasions that accountability

accountability to Parliament

to Parliament is important, as will be

the interest shown in Hong Kong by Parliament itself. But they have

not committed themselves to any set timetable for Parliamentary

debate.

I t is possible that the inclusion of this

this provision in the Bill

might prompt an attack on the extension of diplomatic privileges and immunities in general. In response we should make it clear that the Vienna Convention is an essential element in the conduct of foreign

relations. Any suggestion that the immunities conferred by the Convention should be restricted should be considered in light of the

vulnerability of many British Embassies overseas in countries which

are hostile towards us or in which the rule of law is not firmly

established.

There was no controversy over this clause in the House of Commons.

CONFIDENTIAL