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25 JAN 1988
Private Secretary
FROM: PS/LORD LENARTHUR DATE: 13 January 1958
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CC: PS/Mr Eggar
DEBATE ON HONG KONG: PREPARATORY ACTION
Mr Gillmore
Mr Meyer, News Dept PRU
Mr Houston
Mr Macharen
Mr Itum
1. Lord Glenarthur has looked rapidly at Mr Hum's minute of 13 January, which you require for tonight's box. He would welcome further discussion at the ministerial meeting
tomorrow.
2. Lord Glenarthur's initial reaction is that the department have taken a number of helpful steps to prepare the ground for next week's debate. As regards further action, he endorses Mr Hum's view, and that of the Governor, that it would be useful for the Secretary of State to speak to Mr Kaufman on Privy Councellor terms. He thinks that it is important to avoid giving any impression that the Government is on the defensive. Although Mr Foulkes has suggested that the bipartisan approach may be breaking down, this should certainly not lead us towards showing any willingness to consider movement towards direct elections in 1988.
J. It the Secretary of State wanted him to offer to debrief Mr Foulkes after his visit to Hong Kong, Lord Gienarthur would be prepared to do this. But he thinks it might be better to concentrate on Mr Kaufman.
4. Lord Glenartnur is not enthusiastic about the idea of ottering general informal drinks/background briefing by Ministers in advance of the debate. It could suggest that Ministers did not feel themselves to be on strong ground in Parliament and were resorting to softening-up in advance. But it is something that would be worth looking at later as part of a general policy of keeping MPs informed.
Lord Glenarthur sees advantage in encouraging constructive Backbenchers who have visited Hong Kong to attend the debate. At Mrs Bottomley's suggestion he will himself be seeing Mr Robert Hughes and Mr Clive Soley on 18 January, with Mr Eggar, in an attempt to defuse possible criticism of Hong Kong's record over human rights (presumably refugees). He will also use this opportunity to answer any comments they have on direct elections.
ju.
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