TNAG-2168-FCO40-3105-House-of-Commons-Foreign-Affairs-Committee-inquiry-into-Hong-1990 — Page 293

Miss Morden Mr Morrfi

22/1

19%

From:

D Holt

Parliamentary Relations Unit

Date:

17 January 1990

CC:

PS/Mr Maude

PS/PUS

Mr Gillmore

Mr McLaren

Head, HKD

Mr Lidington Mr Yeo MP

thes ou / 1

RECEIVED

BSTRY

27 APR 1990

PA

-GISTRY

Private Secretary

INFORMAL MEETING WITH THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE

@

1. I have spoken, following your minute of 11 January, to the FAC Clerk (Mr Robert Wilson) about such a meeting.

2.

There are precedents.

Mr Wilson recalls Sir Geoffrey

Howe having such an informal meeting with the newly constituted Committee shortly after the 1987 Election. Other than that, the Committee have had informal briefings in the India Office Council Chamber on:

-

Hong Kong. Sir Geoffrey Howe met the Committee on 8 March 1989 after they embarked on their Inquiry on Hong Kong.

- Glasnost and the political impact on East/West relations

and arms control.

3.

On 19 October 1988 senior officials took part in an off the record briefing of the Committee, which included drinks and lunch, before members left on that Inquiry's visits to Eastern Europe.

The Committee Clerk was certain the Committee would be very glad to have an informal meeting with the Secretary of State. Mr Wilson thought the best times would be on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday at about 5.30 pm. The "straggle factor" inclined him to believe that the meeting might be better held in the Secretary of State's room in the Commons.

4. Please let me know if you would forward arrangements for such a meeting.

DHCAFQ

like me to carry

Jani Hor

D Holt