TNAG-2170-FCO40-3107-Hong-Kong-annual-review-for-1989-and-1990-1990 — Page 24

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MATTERS OF CURRENT CONCERN (EG DEMOCRACY, NATIONALITY): (B) THAT THE MATERIAL IT CONTAINS IS READILY AVAILABLE IN OTHER FORMS AND (C) THAT IT IS THEREFORE ESSENTIALLY A REDUNDANT AND

TIME-CONSUMING

(II)

EXERCISE.

TO CONTINUE WITH THE STATUS QUO.

(III) TO CONTINUE TO REPORT ANNUALLY TO PARLIAMENT BUT IN AN ALTERNATIVE FORMAT. I SUGGEST SUBMITTING THE TEXT OF YOUR ANNUAL ADDRESS TO LEGCO, UNDER COVER OF A WRITTEN MINISTERIAL STATEMENT THAT MIGHT RESEMBLE A SLIGHTLY EXPANDED VERSION OF THE FOREWORD WHICH INTRODUCED THE 1989 ANNUAL REPORT. THIS STATEMENT WOULD CONCENTRATE ON THE MAIN CURRENT PREOCCUPATIONS

OF HMG RELATING TO HONG KONG,

5. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE REALISTIC TO CONTEMPLATE CEASING PRODUCTION OF THIS REPORT. THAT WOULD SEND THE WRONG SIGNALS, BOTH TO PARLIAMENT AND IN HONG KONG. RETAINING THE PRESENT FORMAT WOULD BE THE SAFEST OPTION. DESPITE THE SHORTCOMINGS MENTIONED ABOVE, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT MPS ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THE STATUS QUO.

6. MY PREFERENCE, HOWEVER, WOULD BE TO GO FOR THE REVISED FORMAT. THIS WOULD CONTINUE TO MEET THE UNDERTAKING MADE IN 1985 TO GIVE PARLIAMENT AN ANNUAL OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ON HONG KONG. AT THE SAME TIME IT WOULD MEET SOME OF THE OBJECTIONS TO THE EXERCISE AS CURRENTLY CONDUCTED. THE CONTENT WOULD NOT BE AN ARDUOUS REWORKING OF EXISTING MATERIAL. BUT IT WOULD GIVE A FULL AND RELATIVELY LIVELY ACCOUNT OF THE CURRENT STATE OF HONG KONG AS WELL AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HMG TO MAKE A FEW POLITICAL POINTS. I IMAGINE THAT TO PRESENT YOUR ADDRESS TO LEGCO BEFORE PARLIAMENT MIGHT WELL BE PERCEIVED IN HONG KONG AS A MARK OF RESPECT TO THE TERRITORY. AND OF COURSE, ANY QUESTIONS OF SUBSTANCE REGARDING HONG KONG, SUCH AS THE EXTENSION OF DEMOCRACY OR THE NATIONALITY BILL, WOULD STILL BE DEBATED IN THE HOUSE AS OCCASION DEMANDED. IN ANY CASE, THE FAC CONTINUE TO TAKE A CLOSE INTEREST IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE TERRITORY.

7. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS BEFORE I CONSULT MINISTERS.

HURD

YYYY

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