TNAG-1721-FCO40-2401-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-delegati-1988 — Page 68

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The delegation received widespread publicity of a nature favourable to them. There was daily coverage of the visit from the weekend before the delegation arrived.

The coverage has remained prominent in all the major national dailies. Most importantly, the coverage was supportive of the delegation's views. This was evidenced especially in the editorials which appeared in the Daily Telegraph on 8.12.87 and in the Financial Times and Times today.

Copies

have been faxed to GIS. It is rare enough for Hong Kong to be featured in three editorials in such major papers in the same week; it is even rarer for a particular delegation to receive such strong support in its mission.

We understand from HKD/FCO that details for the

proposed debates are still being considered and no decision

on the date or subject has been taken. A reply to Martin

Lee's letter is being drafted for the Prime Minister's approval. I understand that FCO will communicate with you further. It is likely that another delegation will visit London before the debates to lobby more support.

To sum up, my assessment is the delegation's visit has had considerable impact both on the media and in both Houses of Parliament. It appears likely that if a debate, takes place in Parliament, there will be considerable sympathy for the early introduction of an element of direct elections, especially from Labour MPs.

ALLEYNE

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