TNAG-2254-FCO40-3238-Hong-Kong-Port-and-Airport-Development-Strategy-(PADS)-gene-1991 — Page 100

FAX NO.

Lot 212

TO:

CONFIDENTIAL

FAX DOCUMENT

Sir David Ford (Personal) repeated to PS/GH

FROM:

John Yaxley, CL

DATE:

24 January, 1991

Mo Stone

W/201

FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (FAC).

Further to my fax LOT 208 to you of 23 January, we have now been informed that my informal session with the FAC will be on Thursday 14 February.

2.

The Clerk to the Committee has today briefed Stephen Chan, in confidence and in greater detail, about the Committee's informal session with the Chinese Ambassador (para 3 of my fax LOT 208). It now transpires that he did not, in fact, query the need for a new airport but did question its size, cost

cost and location. I hope that the briefing I have requested will cover these points in some detail as the FAC is likely to raise them with me.

3.

The other subjects raised in the FAC's discussion with the Ambassador covered :

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

-

Bill of Rights The Ambassador argued that there was no need for a Bill of Rights because there are provisions in the Basic Law which guarantee human rights. Having a separate Bill of Rights will not help Hong Kong people develop confidence in the Basic Law;

-

British Nationality (HK) Act China remains hostile to this Act. He said that it is clearly laid down in the Basic Law that the top positions in the future HKSAR Government will only be filled by Hong Kong Chinese nationals;

Democracy - The Ambassador said it is important for any political development to be gradual. He cited the "creeping chaos" in the Soviet Union as an undesirable effect of introducing political changes at too rapid a pace;

HMS Tamar - One FAC member raised the question of using the Tamar site as the future location for the British Consulate General. This drew no response from the Ambassador; and

CONFIDENTIAL