TNAG-1841-FCO40-2616-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 46

evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee. All in all, taking the comments in Erskine May, the directions in the Memorandum of Guidance by the Cabinet Office, and the informal opinion of the Clerks to the Committee, my conclusions are:-

(1) The Governor and members of the Government of Hong Kong can be required to attend Westminster to give evidence about matters within the terms of reference of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and could find themselves in contempt of the House if they refused.

(2) It would appear that the Governor and his officials could be obliged to give evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee even if it

sits in Hong Kong.

(3) If the Governor or his officials were required to give evidence, they could avail themselves of some of the exceptions in paragraph 30 of the Cabinet Office Memorandum and refuse to give evidence on

sensitive international matters.