TNAG-2461-FCO40-3582-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Commonwealth-countries-1992 — Page 64

Mrs Chalker as Minister responsible for the Commonwealth and thus our general interest in the CPA, or another.

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I fear therefore that the best answer to Hong Kong's request is that they must try to kill it at their end, by ensuring an appropriately unenthusiastic response from the Hong Kong Branch of the CPA. If they cannot, then we may have to set in train a laborious and arms length process through the Westminster Branch officers.

5. I have considered briefly suggesting that we should also try to work into the Westminster Branch's response a suitably unenthusiastic reference to this idea. The Westminster Branch is however studiously non-partisan, and it must be for you to advise on whether there is enough common ground between government and opposition to make it possible, if time still allows, to see if Colin Shepherd and the senior opposition member of the UK Branch Executive, Donald Anderson, could do so.

Justin

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T C S Stitt