TNAG-1718-FCO40-2398-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 165

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Background and Argument

3. The Hong Kong Government White Paper on representative

government will be published on 10 February. The decisions which it

contains, in particular on the introduction of a directly elected

element to LegCo in 1991, are likely to arouse some attention both

in Parliament and in the media.

A

4. Where Parliament is concerned, I assume that Ministers would

not consider the event of sufficient magnitude or domestic interest

to justify an oral Ministerial statement. The appropriate procedure

would seem to be to inspire a written PQ for reply in both Houses on

10 February. Given the degree of parliamentary interest in the

question of direct elections, it would be disingenuous to make no

reference to the issue in the reply. Our draft therefore lists all

the main decisions contained in the White Paper: we do not want to give the impression that it focusses exclusively on direct elections.

We shall be receiving copies of the White Paper from Hong Kong in

time to place them in the libraries of both Houses in advance of the

reply.

5. I have discussed with Mrs Bottomley what briefing of MPs might

be appropriate. Her suggestion is that Lord Glenarthur might best

explore this informally with Sir Peter Blaker. A full meeting of

the Hong Kong Parliamentary Group would seem rather too formal on

this occasion. Lord Glenarthur might instead offer to invite Sir

Peter Blaker to bring the office-holders of the group, together with

any other backbenchers with a particular interest, to an informal

drink (which could best take place on the evening of 10 February). This format would permit the Minister (perhaps supported by officials) to explain the background to the decisions in the White

Paper. If Sir Peter Blaker feels that there would be insufficient

interest to justify a briefing, no doubt he would so advise.

6.

I am discussing separately with News Department how best to tackle the press. Despite the thorough briefing which they have received both from ourselves and from Miss Lydia Dunn, they remain

generally unconvinced by the case for a cautious approach to direct elections. The very satisfactory editorial in yesterday's "Daily

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