TNAG-1852-FCO40-2627-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 141

DAYADW

TO: PS/Mr Maude

HKB

CONFIDENTIAL

110

FROM:

Mr Paul

DATE:

CC

13

Hong Kong Department

2 October 1989

Private Secretary

PS/PUS

Mr Gillmore

Mr Mclaren

Mr Fraser

On 26/10

Mr Holt, PRU

FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE REPORT ON HONG KONG

Problem

1. We need to explain to the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee that we are not yet in a position to reply to the

Committee's report on Hong Kong.

Recommendation

f.

R.B

(460)

A

B

G

X

2.

I recommend that the Secretary of State seek an opportunity during the Conservative Party Conference to explain the current state of play to the Chairman of the Committee and to obtain confirmation that the Committee is content to await a reply. I

submit points to make. PRU agree.

Background

..

Rin

The Foriegn 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 on Hong Kong and recommended that the Head of PR write to the clerk of the Committee explaining this. Mr Lyall Grant's minute to me of 17 October

recorded Mr Maude's view that, should we need to delay a reply to

W

* the FAC beyond the beginning of October, we should need to square Mr David Howell MP. Mr Holt, PRU, subsequently wrote to the Clerk of

the Committee.

4. I argued in my submission of 15 August, and I remain of the view,

ould that we shall refrain from a formal reply to the FAC report until we

eci * have substantive discussions on the nationality package and on

CONFIDENTIAL