TNAG-2461-FCO40-3582-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Commonwealth-countries-1992 — Page 43

CODE (8-77

13

RESTRICTED

weterfired

CMR Wilkinson

CCD, E 312

COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION (CPA) MEETING WITH MR LENNOX-BOYD ON 21 MAY

1.

You ask in your minute of 8 May for contributions to Mr Lennox-Boyd's speech, plus bull/defensive points. I attach a few defensive ones.

2.

But

Hong Kong's relationship with the Commonwealth after 1997 is a delicate matter. We do not want to cut off the possibility of some informal links, eg between educational institutions or individual academics, being maintained. the formal position is that after July 1997, Hong Kong becomes part of China and hence ineligible for Commonwealth membership. Any suggestion that membership of any sort could continue after-1997 will provoke an angry reaction from China. This could make it more difficult for the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region subsequently to get agreement for links of an individual or informal nature.

3. We would therefore prefer that Hong Kong not be raised at all on this occasion. Hence no contribution to

Mr Lennox-Boyd's speech. But we see that Mr Michael Ho from Hong Kong will be one of the CPA delegates. He is a member of the United Democrats of Hong Kong (UDHK), and it is possible he may raise the issue of Hong Kong's Commonwealth connections post-1997 as a means of keeping up international interest in China's handling of democracy and human rights in Hong Kong.

4. It is also quite likely that Mr Ho may raise the issue of democracy/elections to the Hong Kong Legislative Council in the run-up to 1997. The UDHK, led by Mr Martin Lee, is active in campaigning for more directly-elected seats than the 20 currently agreed with China for the 1995 Legislative Council elections. (They want 30, 50%). The defensive points take account of this too.

5. I also attach a brief background note, based on this minute, which Mr Lennox-Boyd might find helpful.

K. Sanders

KAM Saunders

Hong Kong Department

WH 311

270 3544

14 May 1992

KS LACQ

JRB

RESTRICTED