TNAG-1838-FCO40-2613-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 26

CONFIDENTIAL

b) It would also be helpful if the Secretary of State could raise

with David Howell and Peter Shore the delicate issue of the

Governor's involvement. The Governor has already agreed to meet the

Committee informally on 23 February. It would obviously be very

sensitive in Hong Kong terms if the Governor was invited to give

formal evidence. (The Committee decided at their meeting today that

they would be taking formal public evidence in Hong Kong, although

the Governor's role was not discussed). The Secretary of State may

wish to discuss this question with the Governor during his

forthcoming visit.

c)

The informal briefing session on 8 March would be an

opportunity for the Secretary of State to give the Committee his

broad personal overview and to clarify any sensitive points that we

think the Committee should be aware of before they begin their

Enquiry. We will need to consider what briefing is necessary for

the 22 March session in the light of the Commitee's reaction to our

Memorandum and to the 8 March meeting. (The Clerk will in any case

let us have in confidence the line of questioning for 22 March a few

days in advance).

(ii) Lord Glenarthur's involvement

(a) Lord Glenarthur would like to attend the informal briefing on 8

March to comment, for example, on his latest visit to Hong Kong.

(b) If the Committee would find it helpful Lord Glenarthur would

also be willing to brief them at a later stage on the detailed arrangements for their visit to Hong Kong and Peking, the personalities they are likely to encounter etc. Such a meeting

might be fitted in, for example, during the second week of the Easter recess, immediately before Lord Glenarthur's departure for

South East Asia on 4 April.

CONFIDENTIAL