TNAG-2710-FCO40-3916-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-and-Par-1993 — Page 199

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REGISTRY Action Taken

22 April 1993

CC:

Mr Davies, FED

Mr Morris, HKD

Rets w, Parl

88

PS/Mr Goodlad

HONG KONG: SIR MICHAEL MARSHALL MP

1.

the Schrodents,

Endorsement

I attach a note from Ms Saunders of HKD, recording a conversation between Sir Michael Marshall MP and the leader of the Chinese delegation to an IPU conference.

2.

I agree that Sir Michael Marshall's suggestion of a UK/China working party of parliamentarians on Hong Kong is not a helpful one. The experience of UK/Argentine discussions, to which Sir Michael referred, is not a relevant precedent. Analogous discussions with Chinese parliamentarians would not of course have any effect whatsoever on Chinese government policy or on Chinese public opinion. British parliamentarians would simply be subjected to lobbying on lines dictated by the Chinese Government.

3.

It would be very helpful if Mr Goodlad felt able to have a quiet word with Sir Michael Marshall, to suggest that the idea could best not be taken any further.

Cotten

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