TNAG-2363-FCO40-3434-Visits-by-MPs-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 54

RESTRICTED

FM FCO

TO PRIORITY PEKING

TELNO 684

OF 2514OOZ JUNE 91

RESTRICTED

HKD $26,

10. 9/26/4 1/4

38

011313

MDLOAN 5825

vroits file дл

(ie MPs) in case

they call at HK'

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG, BTC HONG KONG

INFO PRIORITY UKDEL STRASBOURG

as well.

Щ

FROM FED

PARLIAMENTARY VISITS TO CHINA

1. WE HAVE HEARD OF TWO PROVISIONAL PROPOSALS FOR PARLIAMENTARY VISITS TO CHINA IN SEPTEMBER, BY THE PARLIAMENTARY AND SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE CAN UNOFFICIAL GROUP OF MEMBERS OF BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT AND BRITISH MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, TOGETHER WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF S AND T INSTITUTIONS AND SCIENCE- BASED COMPANIES), AND BY A GROUP FROM THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT.

2. THE PARLIAMENTARY AND SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE HAVE AN INVITATION

FROM THE CHINESE PEOPLES POLITICAL CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE TO SEND A SEVEN STRONG DELEGATION IN SEPTEMBER FOR A TEN DAY VISIT. THE DELEGATION WILL BE LED BY THE PSC'S PRESIDENT, SIR IAN LLOYD MP AND WILL INCLUDE AT LEAST TWO OTHER PARLIAMENTARIANS, THE RT HON ANTHONY MORRIS MP AND LORD STODDART OF SWINDON. SIR GERARD VAUGHAN MP IS AN ADDITIONAL POSSIBILITY. THE VISIT FORMS PART OF A REGULAR EXCHANGE UNDER AN AGREEMENT DRAWN UP DURING THE PSC'S VISIT TO PEKING IN 1986. CHINESE COUNTERPARTS HAVE VISITED THE UK ON CATEGORY II TERMS IN 1985 AND 1988. THE PROPOSED ITINERARY INCLUDES PEKING, XIAN AND POSSIBLY SHANGHAI. IN-COUNTRY COSTS ARE BEING PAID BY THE CHINESE.

3 =

ALL

FURTHER

THE PSC WILL BE WRITING TO COLLARD ABOUT THIS. DETAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE LATER. GRATEFUL MEANWHILE FOR ANY IMMEDIATE COMMENTS FOR US TO FEED BACK TO THE PSC.

4. A GROUP FROM THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ALSO INTENDS TO VISIT CHINA IN SEPTEMBER. THERE IS, WE UNDERSTAND, SOME CONTROVERSY ABOUT ITS OBJECTIVES. MR CHRISTOPHER JACKSON MEP (WHO VISITED CHINA LAST NOVEMBER YEAR AND CALLED ON SIR A DONALD) HAS DISCUSSED WITH US DOUBTS EXPRESSED BY SOME BRITISH MEPS ABOUT THE WAY IN WHICH THE LEADER OF THE PROPOSED DELEGATION IS GOING ABOUT THE PREPARATIONS. APPARENTLY THE LATTER, WHILE BEING A STRONG

1

PAGE RESTRICTED