TNAG-1851-FCO40-2626-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 164

Secretary of State

Miland, HIS (417)

нку

The Scurtay of State

has se

To:

From:

David Harris, M.P.

&&

see this.

28th June 1989

Hong Kong Report

The Select Committee on Foreign Affairs agreed unanimously today its Report on Hong Kong which will be published at noon on Friday. We hope to have a draft copy tomorrow.

I understand that main points from the Report include:

Right of Abode. This was firmly rejected although, as expected, Canavan and Welsh, moved an amendment to give such a right to 3.25 million Chinese but were defeated.

1.

2.

3.

4.

"Armageddon scenario. Despite opposition, the Committee voted in favour of carrying out some continguency planning here and now. This could involve approaches to other countries but probably only at Ambassadorial level if needs be. I am told that it should not embarrass you too much.

Chief Executive. The Committee is recommending that the Chief Executive should be elected by an electoral college six months before handover so that, rather

n on the American principle, he should be Chief Executive designate before taking actual office.

Democracy. 50% of the members should be elected by 1991 and 100% by five years later.

The general view is that the Report should not cause you too much trouble.

HKB 011/3

P.S. One further point the Committee has come down in favour

of ■ mandatory repatriation, if necessary, of Vietnamese boat people although it was split on this issue when amendments were considered. (Jim Lester was against, for example). The Committee thinks that the Americans should play a bigger role in solving the problem.