CONFIDENTIAL
MKB 011/3
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 366
OF 020945Z FEBRUARY 89
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
enter
40
051562 MDLIAN 3675
MIPT : FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ENQUIRY INTO HONG KONG
MAIN POINTS IN THE ARTICLE OF TA KUNG PAO ON THE FAC.
1. THE FAC OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS WILL SHORTLY COME TO HONG KONG TO STUDY ABOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JD. THE RESPONSE OF DCS JOHN CHAN THAT THE HKG IS LIAISING WITH THE FCO WITH A VIEW TO ACCERTAIN- ING THE OBJECTIVES OF THE FAC'S VISIT IS ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE. THE FAC DOES NOT REPRESENT THE GOVERNMENT. HKG IS HELD RESPONSIBLE TO UKG AND ACCEPTS INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE FCO AND THIS IS WHY DCS SAYS HE HAS TO LIAISE WITH THE FCO CONCERNING THE FAC'S VISIT TO HK.
2. THE FAC, LIKE OTHER SIMILAR SELECT COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, MONITORS THE OPERATION OF THE UKG. MEMBERS OF THE FAC,ARE THEREFORE NON-OFFICIALS. THE FAC HAS NO LEGAL ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION, AND OFFICIALS CAN ALSO DECLINE TO ATTEND HEARINGS CONDUCTED BY THE FAC. THERE IS ALSO NO DESIGNATED TIMESLOT IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS SESSION FOR DISCUSSION OF REPORTS OF SUCH COMMITTEES.
THE FULL IMPLEMENTATI-
3. THE JD IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS. ON OF THE JD IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BOTH SIGNATORIES. IN FACT, SINCE THE SIGNING OF THE JD, THE CHINESE AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENTS HAVE THROUGH VARIOUS CHANNELS, INCLUDING THE JLG, MAINTAINED CLOSE LIAISON.
4. THE WISH OF THE LEGISLATURE OR THE CITIZENS OF ONE OF THE SIGNATORY COUNTRIES TO MONITOR THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT IS AN INTERNAL MATTER FOR THAT GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, IF THE ABILITY OF THAT GOVERNMENT TO IMPLEMENT THE JD IS CALLED INTO QUESTION AND LEADS TO A CONFUSION AS TO WHO ACTUALLY REPRESENTS THE OFFICIAL VIEW, THEN IT IS REASONABLE FOR THE OTHER SIGNATORY COUNTRY TO SEEK CLARIFICATION.
5. THE JD WAS RATIFIED BY THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT. HOWEVER, THE LAW PROVIDING FOR THE RETURN OF HONG KONG TO CHINA IS IN THE FORM OF AN
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