TNAG-1418-FCO40-1901-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-Sub-Committee-on-Race-Relations-and--1985 — Page 160

A

î

неумее

with MS

Mr Choufen

نه

Walker's very reinen 1914

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference..

pa Scorel. Ex

to Galyathey I have spoken to Rawsthome, bunga & Nally Jeff

worthy

that their weir will need

Mr Leeks of Home office. It is plain that their

1

Sec Level ( Do Hyde) ince the & also involved. I Benisthave will

авар.

to be cuerolimated at

at Dep Community suces

Juicer Drea SCORRI REPORT Could Hyde asay, revert (today of Twerday).

1

све

I have spoken further to Mr Bacon, Parliamentary Unit, about 1914

what should be the form of our reply to Parliament on the report's recommendations.

2.

-

Paragraphs 57 60 of the Memorandum of Guidance for Officials give general guidelines.

3. Mr Bacon said that it is ultimately the Home Office's responsibility to coordinate the Government's response

response to the report. This will probably take the form of a Home Office White Paper, which include an FCO contribution on matters for which we are responsible.

4.

-

-

in

The alternative forms of reply outlined in para 60 of the Memorandum of Guidance Memoranda, letters and answers to PQ's would not on their own normally be considered an adequate response to a report of this kind. However there might be circumstances which an inspired PQ would be used in addition to a White Paper, in order to make clear our views on any particular point.

publication of

5. The Government is expected

is expected to reply within two months of e select committee reports (para's 57 - 58 of the Memorandum

of Guidance). Mr Bacon says the FCO tends to take this deadline more seriously than other Departments. If the reply is going to be delayed, this must be explained in a letter to the Chairman or Clerk to the Committee. Again, this would be the Home Office's responsibility in the case of the SCORRI report.

·

6. Given the length of time they normally take to reply to letters from Mr Luce, it seems to me highly unlikely that the Home Office will be ready to publish a White Paper within two months . We will of course have to discuss this with Home Office officials But if they do not propose to reply quickly, I suppose there might be a case for

for our using an inspired PQ to reply to some of the recommendations relating to Hong Kong (eg to reiterate our the need for the continuation of the closed camp policy?).

stand on

18 April 1985

CODE 18-77

cc. Mr Nash SEAD

Mr Cole UND

сле

وس

tur channon they Hee

стама

Olivia Walker

Hong Kong Department 233 3988

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK 243/2.

RECEIVED IN REGISTR. 2 1 APR 1985

DAM OFF

INDEX

Le