CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 334
OF 301145Z JANUARY 89
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 011/3
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, BTC HONG KONG
33
036177 MDHIAN 0403
TOP COPY
PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD, FROM GOVERNOR
YOUR TELNO 274: FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ENQUIRY INTO HONG KONG
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THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT OF YOUR MEETING WITH THE CLERK TO THE
COMMITTEE.
2. ONE POINT WHICH IS STILL NOT CLEAR IS WHETHER EITHER I OR HKG OFFICIALS (WHO ARE CLEARLY IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT POSITION) ARE FORMALLY OBLIGED TO GIVE EVIDENCE IF THE COMMITTEE ASKS. TACTICALLY WE WOULD WISH TO BE HELPFUL RATHER THAN OBSTRUTIVE: BUT, HOWEVER WE RESPOND, WE NEED TO KNOW THE FORMAL CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION. GRATEFUL
FOR YOUR ADVICE.
3. I SHALL WISH TO DISCUSS MY OWN POSITION DURING MY VISIT TO LONDON. AS YOU HAVE POINTED OUT TO THE CLERK, THE POSITION OF THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG IS DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF THE GOVERNOR OF GIBRALTAR, OR INDEED THE CIVIL COMMISSIONER OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS. FOR THE GOVERNOR TO BE QUESTIONED IN PUBLIC IN HIS OWN TERRITORY BY A GROUP OF MPS, SOME OF WHOM ARE BOUND TO BE TAKING A CRITICAL STANCE, HAS IMPLICATIONS IN TERMS OF LOCAL PERCEPTIONS OF THE GOVERNOR'S ROLE AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT. I SHOULD BE . HAPPY TO HAVE AN OFF-THE-RECORD MEETING WITH THE COMMITTEE. IF THEY WANT A SESSION ON THE RECORD, AND BAULK AT IT BEING CLOSED, I AM INCLINED TO COME TO LONDON FOR THE PURPOSE RATHER THAN BE QUESTIONED IN THE FULL GLARE OF LOCAL PUBLICITY.
4. SO FAR AS OTHER HKG OFFICIALS ARE CONCERNED, WE SHALL HAVE TO CONSIDER WHETHER THERE WOULD BE MERIT IN SUGGESTING PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE ACTUALLY COMPELLED TO GIVE FORMAL EVIDENCE. I SHOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS ALSO.
5. ONE POINT WE SHALL NEED TO HAVE CLEAR IN OUR MINDS BEFORE THE ENQUIRY BEGINS IS THE CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION OF THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, BOTH IN FORMAL TERMS AND IN PRACTICE. IT IS NOT ALWAYS CLEAR TO OUTSIDERS HOW MUCH HONG KONG IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING ITS
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