TNAG-2363-FCO40-3434-Visits-by-MPs-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 50

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

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IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 1375

OF 25093OZ JULY 91

CONFIDENTIAL

HKD $26,

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MDHOAN 7762

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COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION (CPA) DELEGATION TO AUSTRALIA AND HONG KONG, 22 AUGUST 14 SEPTEMBER

1.

A DELEGATION OF THE CPA (UK BRANCH) WILL BE STOPPING OVER FOR 24 HOURS IN HONG KONG ON 13 SEPTEMBER AT THE END OF THEIR 3 WEEK VISIT TO AUSTRALIA. THE DELEGATION WILL BE LED BY LORD THOMAS OF GWYDIR. THE OTHER FIVE MEMBERS ARE MR GRAHAM ALLEN (LAB) MR JACK ASPINWALL (CON) MR JIM GALLAGHAN (LAB) MR JAMES COUCHMAN (CON) AND BARONESS LOCKWOOD. GIVEN A BACKGROUND BRIEFING TODAY.

2.

THEY WERE

TWENTY FOUR HOURS IS CLEARLY NOT LONG ENOUGH IN HONG KONG TO DO OR SEE VERY MUCH. BUT ONE OR TWO MEMBERS EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN EXTENDING THEIR STAY IN ORDER TO LEARN A BIT MORE. IT IS CLEARLY HIGHLY DESIRABLE FOR BRITISH MPS TO HAVE A GOOD AND SYMPATHETIC UNDERSTANDING OF HONG KONG, AND WE WONDERED THEREFORE, WHETHER YOU MIGHT BE WILLING TO OFFER THEM A CATEGORY II TYPE PROGRAMME OF ONE OR TWO DAYS, SUITED TO THEIR PARTICULAR INTERESTS. THE DELEGATION WILL BE THE GUESTS OF THE CPA HONG KONG BRANCH FOR THE FIRST 24 HOURS AND WOULD PRESUMABLY FEND FOR THEMSELVES OVER THE WEEKEND, SO WE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT 16 AND POSSIBLY 17 SEPTEMBER.

3.

THE FACT THAT THIS VISIT WOULD FALL AT THE WEEKEND OF THE LEGCO ELECTIONS COULD BE SEEN AS AN ADDITIONAL BONUS. IT WOULD MEAN THAT ONE OR TWO BRITISH MPS WOULD BE IN HONG KONG AT THAT TIME WITHOUT ANY SUGGESTION THAT THEY HAD COME OVER SPECIALLY AS SOME KIND OF OBSERVER.

I HAVE DISCUSSED ALL THIS WITH JOHN YAXLEY, WHO WILL BE PURSUING WITH YOU DIRECT.

4.

HURD

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