TNAG-1840-FCO40-2615-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 94

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

Mr Paul, HKD

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FAC Enquiry into Hong Kong: Initial Memorandum

The Secretary of State has studied the revised draft memorandum submitted with your minute of 24 February. He is generally content with this. The following are his detailed comments:

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(a) In either paragraph 7 or paragraph 8 (at the points.

marked by an asterisk) we should say that on each of the Secretary of State's visits to China he consulted/informed EXCO before (and after?) and that our negotiating position was helpfully and decisively influenced by their advice. The Secretary of State also recalls that he touched base with Legco on these occasions and some suitable reference should be made to that.

(b) In paragraph 26 we might say how often the Secretary

of State has discussed these matters with his Chinese opposite number, most recently in Tokyo last week.

(c) Grateful if you could look at paragraphs 32-33 again

in the light of Martin Lee's article in the Times to check that full account has been taken of his arguments.

(d) On paragraph 42 you will see that the Secretary of

State has made a suggested addition in the margins.

(e) He has also made some suggestions for additions and

re-ordering in the section on Vietnamese boat people (paragraphs 43-48). You will also need to explain that a large proportion of those who left Vietnam in the late 70s were ethnic Chinese so that the second sentence of paragraph 44 does not read oddly to the non-expert.

(f) In Annex 2 the use of the word "achievements" struck

the Secretary of State as

as a bit self-congratulatory. You might consider an alternative neutral phrase such as "the work of the JLG" or "subjects dealt with by the JLG".

(g) See also minor red inks on the text.

27 February 1989

(RN Peirce)

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