TNAG-2461-FCO40-3582-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Commonwealth-countries-1992 — Page 63

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From: T C S Stitt

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Commonwealth Coordination Dept

Date: 22 January 1992

cc: Mr Davies, FED

Ms Barrett, Legal Advisers Ms Brooks, Legal Advisers Mr Cooper, Planners

Mr Figgis, RAD SAD )

NAD ) with TUR PRU)

HONG KONG TELNO 156: LINKS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION AFTER 1997

1.

While I can appreciate the Governor's concern over the ideas for continuing contacts between Hong Kong's legislature and the CPA after 1997, I am not sure that it will be easy to dispose of the issue as Hong Kong telno 156 suggests. You may find the following background useful in considering your reply.

2. The CPA Working Party meets in the Cayman Islands in April under the chairmanship of the President of the Australian Federal Senate, Senator Sibraa. It is made up of representatives of the 7 CPA regions: there is no (no) British representative, the group (the British Islands and the Mediterranean) being represented by the Cypriot, Mr Alekos Markides. It is otherwise heavily dominated by small states representatives (Mauritius, Dominica and Papua New Guinea) together with Sri Lanka, Canada (represented by the Hon Girve Fretz, a junior Minister in the Mulroney Government). This will not be an easy group to influence.

3. While there can be no harm in briefing the CPA Secretary-General on Britain's view of the issues, I do not for one moment believe that that would be sufficient to result in any substantial change in the Working Party's recommendations. The CPA is a backbencher-led organisation and not amenable to bureaucratic steering. My advice would be to approach the Chairman and the Canadian representative through the senior British representative on the CPA Executive (and Chairman of the UK Branch Executive), Mr Colin Shepherd: Parliamentary propriety would probably apply that this be done at ministerial level, whether by ндный

/Mrs Chalker

HD8 AAC

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