TNAG-2031-FCO40-2894-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1990 — Page 97

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

CONFIDENTIAL

Hic B 02613

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

15 JAN1990

DESK OFFICER

REGISTRY

TELNO 68

INDEX

RA

Action Taken

OF 05130OZ JANUARY 90

23

171233 MDHIAN 1455

PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT: REQUESTS BY PRESSURE GROUPS TO MEET THE SECRETARY OF STATE

1. FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE VISIT WE ARE NOW RECEIVING A NUMBER OF REQUESTS FROM PRESSURE GROUPS FOR MEETINGS WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE. YOU WILL RECALL THAT SIR G. HOWE AND MR. FRANCIS MAUDE ARRANGED TO HAVE A SHORT MEETINGS WITH PRESSURE GROUPS DURING THEIR VISITS IN JULY AND SEPTEMBER. THIS HAS NOT/NOT BEEN THE PRACTICE DURING PREVIOUS MINISTERIAL VISITS.

2. THE GROUPS THAT HAVE SO FAR ASKED TO SEE THE SECRETARY OF STATE

ARE:-

(A) THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION (A PRESSURE GROUP OF COMPARATIVELY LONG STANDING WHICH WAS FORMED MANY YEARS AGO TO CONTEST URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS AND TAKES A FAIRLY MODERATE LINE ON MOST ISSUES):

(B) THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE PROMOTION OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT A (RELATIVELY NEW GROUP PRESSING FOR A FULLY DIRECTLY ELECTED LEGCO BY 1997 AND A CHIEF EXECUTIVE ELECTED THROUGH UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE):

(C) HONG KONG PEOPLE SAVE HONG KONG CAMPAIGN (PRESSING FOR RIGHT OF ABODE IN THE UK FOR ALL HONG KONG RESIDENTS AND A QUICKER PACE OF DEMOCRATISATION):

(D) THE CONCERNED BRITISH EXPATRIATES SOCIETY (PRESSING FOR AUTOMATIC CITIZENSHIP FOR SPOUSES OF BRITISH CITIZENS IN HONG KONG).

3. THERE ARE SURE TO BE MORE OF SUCH REQUESTS. ALTHOUGH THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS A BUSY PROGRAMME IT WOULD PROBABLY BE FEASIBLE TO SQUEEZE IN (SAY) TWO MEETINGS WITH PRESSURE GROUPS FOR HALF AN HOUR EACH DURING THE VISIT. BUT WE NEED TO CONSIDER WHETHER THIS WOULD BE SENSIBLE. THE VISIT OF SIR G. HOWE WAS EXCEPTIONAL GIVEN THE PREVAILING MOOD AT THAT TIME. THERE WERE LARGE

1

PAGE CONFIDENTIAL