TNAG-1468-FCO40-1997-Visits-by-members-of-the-Office-of-the-Unofficial-Members-of-1986 — Page 178

GRS 400

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 2232

OF 10094OZ JULY 86

CONFIDENTIAL

TO

FROM PEARCE, DPA, FOR HUM, HKD.

HKK 006/5

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

1 8 JUL 1986

DESK OFFICER

MARTIN LEE

INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

AB 18

1. MARTIN LEE HAS TOLD US THAT HE HAS ARRANGED THROUGH THE U.S. CONSULTATE-GENERAL TO VISIT WASHINGTON FOR A WEEK FROM 11 AUGUST TO DO A CRASH COURSE'' N U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS. THIS AROSE FROM LEE TELLING THE AMERCHANS HERE THAT HE FELT THAT HIS KNOWLEDGE OF CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS WAS INADEQUATE FOR HIS BLDC WORK, WHILE THE CHINESE SIDE HAD A NUMBER OF EXPERTS IN THE FIELD.

2. LEE HAS ALSO EXPRESSED UNTEREST IN GOING TO LONDON, NOT FOR A CRASH COURSE AS SUCH, BUT TO TALK TO A FEW PEOPLE ABOUT THE BRITISH

·CONSTITUTION. HE HAS IT IN MIND TO MEET SOME MPS, AND HAS ASKED US TO SUGGEST SOME NAMES.

3. LEE DOES NOT YET HAVE ANY DATE MIN MIND BUT TOLD ME THAT HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO MAKE A TRAP LATER THIS MONTH. (HE MS AWARE THAT MANY PEOPLE WILL BE OUT OF TOWN HN AUGUST.) HE IS VAGUE ABOUT THE EXACT FOCUS OF HIS EXPEDITION.

་་

4. LEE APPRECIATES THAT IT WOULD BE A KISS OF DEATH INF HE WERE TO BE SEEN TO BE GETTING SPECIAL TREATMENT FROM HMG/HKG. HE WANTS TO KEEP BOTH THE U.S. AND THE LONDON VISHT QUIET.

5. WE ARE NOT SURE HOW DETERMINED LEES TO VISIT LONDON BUT WE DO NOT WISH TO BE UNHELPFUL, ESPECIALLY AS HE HAS SIMPLY ASKED US TO SUGGEST SOME NAMES. WE ARE NOT WELL PLACED TO DO SO, HOWEVER,' AND WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON WHAT CALLS MIGHT BE USEFUL MPS, CONSTITUTIONAL LAWYERS, ACADEMICS, CABINET OFFICE? ACCORDING TO THE AMERICANS HERE, HIS PROGRAMME IN WASHINGTON S NOT YET FIRM. THE CONSULTATE-GENERAL HAVE SUGGESTED TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT A VISIT TO THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, ATTENDANCE AT CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE AND SUB-COMMITTEE STAFF AND CALLS ON OFFICIALS IN THE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES. THEY HAVE SAID THAT THE PROGRAMME SHOULD FOCUS ON HOW THE COMMITTEE SYSTEM WORKS IN WASHINGTON AND ITS INTERACTION WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.

6.

THIS IS VERY MUCH A PRELIMINARY ENQUIRY, AS LEE'S IDEAS REMAIN IRRITATINGLY VAGUE. HE HAS INDICATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AGAIN WITHIN A WEEK.

AKERS-JONES MINIMAL HD/HKD

CONFIDENTIAL