TNAG-1851-FCO40-2626-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 3

A

YUGAAL

PS/Mr Maude

CONFIDENTIAL

FILE

451

HKC B

ON

13

From:

A R Paul

Hong Kong Department

Date:

15 August 1989

CC:

Private Secretary

PS/PUS

Mr Gillmore

Mr McLaren

Mr Fraser

Mr Holt, PRU

FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORT ON HONG KONG

Problem

1.

The timing of the Government's reply to the Foreign Affairs

Committee's report on Hong Kong.

Recommendation

2.

I recommend that the Head of Parliamentary Relations Unit

writes to the Clerk of the Foreign Affairs Committee confirming

that we will publish our reply in the autumn. I submit a draft.

PRU agree.

Background

3.

The Foreign Affairs Committee published their Report on Hong Kong on 30 June in time for the former Secretary of State's visit to Hong Kong. As a general rule, Departments are expected to publish their responses to Select Committee Reports within two months of publication of the Reports.

CONFIDENTIAL