A
10 May 1991
RESTRICTED AND PERSONAL
Foreign & Commonwealth
Office
21
London SW1 2AH
RJ F Hoare Esq
HKD 026/14
Private Secretary
Government House
HONG KONG
RECEIV
1
Dear Richard,
PARLIAMENTARY VISITS
1.
Alan
-only copy.
GF
Mamyaris + 15/5
Myrün
тра
ope /13/5
Thank you for your letter of 26 April. I have delayed replying in order to consult Mike Bates, Head of our Parliamentary Relations Unit who was travelling with the IPU delegation to Pyongyang.
2. Neither we nor PRU had any prior knowledge that other members of the IPU delegation would be transiting Hong Kong en route for Peking and Pyongyang. Mike Bates has told us that it had been agreed that members of the delegation would make their own way to Peking before travelling on to Pyongyang for the conference. He has had a word with a few of the MPs who passed through Hong Kong on this occasion who told him that they had deliberately kept a low profile. Had they wished to meet the Governor they would certainly have asked us if we could arrange a meeting.
3.
We certainly encourage MPs to keep us informed of their travel plans, but when, as in this case, they were not in Hong Kong in any official capacity (the IPU delegation only took on substance, so to speak, in Peking) it is impossible to guarantee that we will always be kept informed. I hope I can reassure you that in this case the individuals did not require a programme and were not offended that one was not offered to them.
4.
As regards the comment of one member of the delegation about the FCO briefing, you may be reassured to know that Hugh Davis, Head of FED, attended the delegation's briefing meeting. Most of the time was spent on administrative matters but Hugh gave them a very realistic view of dealing with China at present. No one asked him about the airport specifically and he certainly did not wish to wind them up to speak on it. I am sure that this was absolutely right. From the feedback
RESTRICTED AND PERSONAL
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