CONFIDENTIAL
of the Budget
Speech
and half yearly economic report
unnecessary, though the latter could perhaps be placed in
the Library of the House.
6.
Such
format would require rather more work than
originally envisaged, and because SO much of it will be
detail, could only be drafted in Hong Kong. We should need to seek the Governor's views on
it.
7.
As to format, a White Paper in the Miscellaneous would probably be mo re appropriate. We would
series
receive
a im to
December.
the Governor's speech in early November and could publish it in London and Hong Kong in early
G
8.
The Governor has proposed that he come
come back to the UK
to lend impact to the publication of the report, and has offered to speak to the Anglo-Hong Kong Parliamentary
Association. This seems likely to be helpful and his
Presence would help to avoid any impression in Hong Kong
that the UK had lost interest in the territory. There must be a considerable danger that the report, which will
contain little if anything new, will make little impact here. There is no commitment to a Parliamentary debate
the report and unless irresistible pressure we re to develop it would probably be better to avoid having one,
in order to avoid establishing a precedent for an annual
debate, for which there was considerable pressure during the passage of the Hong Kong Act. There has been ample Parliamentary debate on Hong Kong in the course of this
year and there will be further opportunities late in the year and early next year when
year when the Nationality Order comes before Parliament.
9.
I attach a draft telegram to Hong Kong.
4 September 1985
CONFIDENTIAL
A C Galsworthy Hong Kong Department
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.