CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 392
OF 03113OZ FEBRUARY 89
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 011/3
TOP COM Q DIST?
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, BTC HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
055156
MDHIAN 1067
36
YOUR TELNO 325: FAC ENQUIRY INTO HONG KONG
I WOULD HAVE NO DIFFICULTY WITH A VISIT BY THE FAC TO HONG KONG IN THE WEEK BEGINING 7 MAY.
2. I TAKE THE POINT THAT POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS ARE THE KEY ELEMENT IN DECIDING HOW TO RESPOND TO INVITATIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE TO GIVE EVIDENCE. I SHARE THIS VIEW. NEVERTHELESS IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE CORRECT CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION AS BACKGROUND, BOTH TO ANSWER THE INEVITABLE ENQUIRIES AND SO THAT WE ARE CLEAR IN OUR OWN MINDS WHETHER, BY RESPONDING TO AN INVITATION TO GIVE EVIDENCE, A HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WOULD BE DOING SO EX GRATIA OR BECAUSE HE HAD TO. MY OWN EXPERTS ARE SOMEWHAT SURPRISED BY THE ADVICE THAT A HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, WHO DOES NOT RELATE TO THE UK PARLIAMENT IN ANY OTHER WAY AND MAY NOT BE A UK CITIZEN, COULD BE OBLIGED TO GIVE EVIDENCE.
3. WE WILL OF COURSE BE AS CO-OPERATIVE AS POSSIBLE WITH THE COMMITTEE. WE ARE NOW CONSIDERING WHICH OFFICIALS WE MIGHT SUGGEST AS BEST EQUIPPED TO GIVE EVIDENCE. MUCH WILL DEPEND ON THE SUBJECTS THE COMMITTEE WISHES TO PURSUE. AS FOR MYSELF, I DOUBT IF I WILL BE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH ONLY SEEING THE COMMITTEE INFORMALLY OVER A DRINK. BUT I AM PLEASED THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE AGREES THAT IT WOULD BE WRONG FOR ME TO GIVE PUBLIC EVIDENCE IN HONG KONG.
4. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HAVE AN OFF-THE-RECORD MEETING WITH THE COMMITTEE DURING MY FORTHCOMING VISIT TO LONDON. I HAVE TELEGRAPHED SEPARATELY ON THE TIMING OF THIS.
WILSON
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