TNAG-1852-FCO40-2627-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 123

CONFIDENTIAL

EELACF

FROM: Mr Paul

Hong Kong Department

DATE: 4 October 1989

cc Private Secretary PS/PUS

Mr Gillmore

Mr Mclaren

Mr Fraser

Mr Holt, PRU

TO: PS/Mr Maude

FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORT ON HONG KONG

Problem

HKB 011

13

26/10

1.

When and in what terms should we reply to the Foreign Affairs Committee's report on Hong Kong?

Recommendations

462

A

B

C

D

2. I recommend that we continue to delay a reply until we have something definite to say on the nationality package. In the meantime, the Secretary of State should write to the Chairman of the Committee to explain the current state of play and to obtain confirmation that the Committee is content to await a reply. submit a draft. PRU agree.

Background

3.

I

The Foreign Affairs Committee published their report on Hong Kong on 30 June. My submission of 15 August gave arguments as to why we were not ready to reply to the Committee's report and recommended that the Head of PRU write to the Clerk of the Committee explaining this. Mr Lyall Grant's minute to me of 17 August recorded Mr Maude's view that, should we need to delay a reply to the FAC beyond the beginning of October, we would need to square Mr David Howell MP. Mr Holt, PRU, subsequently wrote to the Clerk of the Committee.

CONFIDENTIAL