TNAG-1847-FCO40-2622-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 13

A R Paul Esq

CONFIDENTIAL

OFFICE OF THE BRITISH SENIOR REPRESENTATIVE, SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP

St John's Building

33 Garden Road

PO Box 528

Hong Kong

Telephone 5-8682171, 5-8682416, 5-8682431, 5-8682435

334

Hong Kong Department

FCO

HKB 011/3

Your reference

Our reference

Date 24 April 1989

Dem Alan,

FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

1.

2871

Mr Mclaren Moo Marsei

Mr Woonv

Miss Chick

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/27/10

As you know it was not intended that UKRep JLG should be involved in the FAC visit. I was however asked on their last day by Reg Holloway if I could attend a dinner he was giving that evening for British businessmen. Apparently this invitation was at the request of the Committee. Since Reg has now left, and in case he does not have the opportunity to report it himself, a couple of points made by the Clerk, Robert Wilson, may be of interest to you.

2. Wilson said that members of the Committee had worried that remarks, principally by Mr Jopling on the passport issue, had been too harsh. They had been surprised by the strength and bitterness of anti-British feeling in Hong Kong and would not want to have exacerbated it. Nevertheless, since there was little support to be expected in the UK for a massive immigration commitment it seemed sensible to state the position plainly. commented that the press campaign for unlimited right of abode for BDTCs had become intense and damaging in the last couple of months, and agreed with the thought that a clear view of the realities from an MP might do some good.

3.

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After dinner there was a discussion about what HMG could be doing better to protect our interests and boost Britain's image in Hong Kong. It will be no surprise to you that several of the businessmen present argued for a more coherent British presence, encompassing more than just the trade functions of the BTC. Commenting on this Wilson said several of the Committee had been struck by the degree of autonomy of HKG and the independence of its officials from British concerns. He asked me whether I favoured the establishment of a higher-profile British office whose responsibilities would go beyond trade.

CONFIDENTIAL

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