TNAG-1886-FCO40-2677-Overseas-visits-by-Sir-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong---1989 — Page 42

MAXAAK (1)

CONFIDENTIAL

VISIT OF THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG TO LONDON, 21-23 FEBRUARY 1989

A: FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ENQUIRY INTO HONG KONG

Objective

To seek the Governor's views on his involvement in the FAC enquiry

and on the potential problems likely to arise from the Committee's

visit to Hong Kong.

Points to Make

Now that the Foreign Affairs Committee have decided to take

public formal evidence in Hong Kong, their visit is likely to be very high profile. But no decision yet on who they wish to see.

Critical issue is how to handle your involvement. Want to be as

co-operative as possible with the Committee. But your role is

obviously very sensitive in Hong Kong terms. Further consideration

is risk of setting unwelcome precedent for first Chief Executive of

SAR. Clearly wrong for you to have to give public evidence in Hong

Kong.

-

Intend to speak to David Howell and Peter Shore about this.

Hope we can avoid need for you to give formal evidence and can

confine your involvement to private briefing.

But if Committee were to insist on taking formal evidence, would there by any ways of minimising the damage eg. by identifying certain less sensitive issues on which on-the-record evidence might be possible eg. prospects for Hong Kong economy, local aspects of Vietnamese boat people problem etc, or by giving evidence in London rather than Hong Kong?

CONFIDENTIAL

COMMITTEE ENQURY

FOREIGN AFFAIRS