TNAG-2234-FCO40-3207-FCO-sponsored-visits-from-Hong-Kong-to-the-UK-1991 — Page 9

CONFIDENTIAL #3

機密

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2

During

the

lunch hosted by the Director of Administration, with two LegCo Members present (Mrs Miriam Lau and Mr Howard Young), Cui took the rigid party position that the current LegCo was an advisory body and that LegCo after 1997 would be a genuine legislative body. His reaction to the VBP issue was dogmatic, and he brushed aside the problem of gangs from China coming to Hong Kong for criminal purposes. Cui towed a similarly rigid line at the briefing by the Clerk to LegCo.

Throughout the programme, the MFA delegation were attentive. They appeared to be genuinely interested in what they were shown and were impressed by the standards and design of new housing estates and new town facilities, the efficiency of computerised immigration control and the equipment for detecting forged travel documents. They were particularly interested in the briefing on infrastructure planning and asked a number of questions on development plans and environmental protection measures. All briefing officers have commented that the visit was useful.

This was Cui's first visit to Hong Kong and he requested on several occasions that the car make a detour for him to see "things of interest". This included

squatter huts and the Kowloon Walled City. Cui remarked that squatter areas should be "preserved" and perhaps converted into museums so that all could see this important feature of Hong Kong. Cui said that the Kowloon Walled City was a place which he had longed to visit for years.

Cui was particularly interested in inflation and environmental pollution. He asked a number of questions to confirm that inflation

was the most pressing problem for

the general public.

A few social functions were organised for the delegation. These included dinners hosted by PA and SHW, a cocktail reception by SCS and a launch trip by SCA. The atmosphere was friendly but nothing of particular interest transpired.

Your

Nigil

(Nigel Whitney)

for Secretary for Constitutional Affairs

c.c. Mr Steven Brooking,

British Embassy Peking

PS/GH

AA/CS PA

UKRep JLG HK

CONFIDENTIAL #B