TNAG-2320-FCO40-3364-Human-rights-in-Hong-Kong-1991 — Page 218

or

RESTRICTED

18/1/91

8171

(3 pages)

For IC from SRB (Yee) (pl repeat STI, SCA, DGT, DPA and Clerk to Legco)

EP REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS: B75

Skinner and myself called on Mr J W Bertens, MEP on 16 January. The purpose of the visit was to establish how far Mr Bertens has got in preparing the report on human rights in Hong Kong and to offer our assistance.

2.

Mr Bertens has apparently not got too far beyond the preliminary stage of reading up background materials. But he has read the Basic Law and other materials on Hong Kong compiled by Amnesty International. He therefore welcomed our offer of assistance and responded readily and positively to the offer of a sponsored visit to Hong Kong. Since we did not have your approval

this was made without commitment (we said we would need to clear this with

you). We believe however that we effectively have no option. We must do all

we can to help in order to ensure that Mr Bertens is as fully briefed as possible. We should appreciate, however, your formal agreement that we will sponsor Mr Bertens on a visit to Hong Kong.

3.

Although an official invitation to visit PRC had not yet been

received, he had already been approached by the Chinese authorities who offered "to provide every assistance and to make all the arrangements" for a visit to the PRC. A group representing Vietnamese Boat People has made

contact with him through Amnesty International when it became known that he is

preparing a report on human rights in Hong Kong.

4.

With regard to the proposed sponsored visit to Hong Kong, he

indicated that :

a) the visit should preferably take place around Easter having regard to his plan of submitting a working paper in about three months' time and the

report before the 1991 summer recess:

+

/b)