TNAG-1840-FCO40-2615-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 96

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CONFIDENTIAL

Surtary of State (110) bl

From: Lord Glenarthur

Date: 15 February 1989

CC:

All Ministers

Mr Gillmore

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Mr McLaren

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Mr Teasdale

Mr Paul, HKD

Mr Burns, News Dept Mr Holt, PRU

Mr Edwards, Legal Advisers

Secretary of State

FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ENQUIRY INTO HONG KONG

1.

As we previously agreed, I held a meeting yesterday to lay the foundations for our handling of the FAC enquiry into / Hong Kong. I now attach a paper prepared by the Department

which sets out what we agreed and, as the immediate action point, includes an outline for the Memorandum which we will need to submit to the Committee by 1 March.

2.

7

I am afraid that this enquiry will put a very heavy burden on those directly concerned, not least yourself, I am very grateful for the degree of involvement which you have offered to take on. The paper gives a few indications of how I think your own personal experience and knowledge of the issues can best be brought to bear. I of course stand ready to do all I can to help, starting (if you agree) with a supporting role at your informal meeting with the Committee on 8 March.

3.

None of us will relish the prospect of the Committee's probings. The paper points up some of the most obvious sensitivities critically how to handle the Chinese and the involvement of the Governor together with tactics for steering the Committee past some of the most dangerous rocks.

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4. As for the issues, I am quite sure that the Committee will focus on a few particular areas:

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The general issue of the development of representative government, mixed in with the future constitutional structure. I continue to believe strongly that we have a good story to tell on this and that we should take no stick for perceived shortcomings which are not of our making.

/- Vietnamese

CONFIDENTIAL