TNAG-1851-FCO40-2626-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 108

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 30130OZ FCO

TELNO 2171

OF 30110OZ JUNE 89

HKB 011/3

TOP COPY Q DIST?

(422062304

MDHIÁN 1454

MIPT FAC REPORT

PRESS STATEMENT AS FOLLOWS :

FOLLOWING THE RELEASE OF THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORT ON HONG KONG, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS RECEIVED A COPY AND IS NOW STUDYING THE DETAILS.

''ON NATIONALITY, WE ARE OF COURSE DISAPPOINTED THAT THE FAC HAS NOT FELT ABLE TO SUPPORT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S AND OMELCO'S STRONG PLEA ON THIS ISSUE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PRESS HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT TO RECOGNISE THE CONCERNS OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE IT HE SAID.

•

THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL DETAILED RECOMMEND- ATIONS ON THE PACE OF POLITICAL CHANGE. THESE WOULD NEED CAREFUL EXAMINATION AND DISCUSSION IN HONG KONG.

HOWEVER, IN NOTING THE VIEWS OF THE COMMITTEE, HE COMMENTED ''THE KEY CONSIDERATION IN MOVING FORWARD IN THIS AREA IS THE WISHES OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE. AS THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID, WE HOPE THAT THERE CAN BE A CONSENSUS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WHICH WILL GUIDE BOTH THE SPEED AND DIRECTION OF FUTURE POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG''.

AS REGARDS THE FAC'S RECOMMENDATIONS ON A BILL OF RIGHTS FOR HONG KONG, THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALREADY WORKING ON THE BEST OPTION TO PURSUE AND POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD SAID THAT MORE DETAILS ON THIS WOULD BE GIVEN IN HIS OCTOBER SPEECH TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE SPOKESMAN WENT ON TO NOTE THE MANY INTERESTING IDEAS PUT FORWARD BY THE FAC.

"WE WILL BE STUDYING THESE VERY CAREFULLY AND THE CHIEF SECRETARY WILL HAVE MORE TO SAY IN THE DEBATE IN LEGCO NEXT WEEK. HE SAID.

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CONFIDENTIAL