TNAG-1896-FCO40-2690-Calls-on-Francis-Maude--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1989 — Page 8

NITAAH(4)

Background

Mr Martin Lee

CONFIDENTIAL

1. Mr Lee QC (CV attached) is a member of the Legislative Council

(representing the legal functional constituency) and one of Hong

Kong's most prominent independent political figures.

2. Mr Lee has been called Hong Kong's leading 'democrat'. He is an

outspoken critic of the British and Hong Kong Governments,

particularly on political reform and the right of abode.

3. He is closely involved in a number of political groupings in

Hong Kong, including the Hong Kong Alliance for the support of

patriotic democratic movements in China, a loose federation of

liberal political organisations in Hong Kong formed in response to the student movement in Peking. Mr Lee is Vice-Chairman of the Hong

Kong Alliance; his LegCo colleague, Szeto Wah, is Chairman. Both Mr

Lee and Szeto Wah have been strongly attacked in the People's Daily

for 'subversive activities'.

He

4. Mr Lee has recently formed the Hong Kong Democratic Association,

which is pressing for more rapid democratisation in Hong Kong.

is also active in the Joint Committee for the Promotion of

Democratic Government which has opened a dialogue with other groups

on the future political structure.

5.

Though widely considered a radical, events in China have

enhanced Mr Lee's standing in Hong Kong and brought him more respect

in less radical circles eg from the business community whose own

views of China have altered for the worse in recent months.

6.

Mr Lee has been a vigorous advocate of right of abode for all

Hong Kong people. He took part in a televised debate with Sir G

Howe on this issue. Mr Lee attended the SLD Conference in Brighton

on 10 September to promote this cause.

CONFIDENTIAL