TNAG-2870-FCO40-4124-Sponsored-visits-by-UK-MPs-and-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1993 — Page 2

mase1

JM

CONFIDENTIAL

31412.

RECENT

20 AUG 1993

...Y

FROM:

JC Morris

Hong Kong Department

DATE:

20 August 1993

Mr Masefield

PS/PUS

CC:

LAST PAPER

PS/Mr Goodlad

Sir J Coles

Miss Brooks, Legal Counsellor

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED VISITS: GREG KNIGHT MP AND ANDREW MITCHELL MP

1. Mr Knight and Mr Mitchell have received invitations for Hong Kong Government-organised visits to the territory, including sponsored return fares, accommodation and local transport. The Cabinet Office have queried whether it is appropriate for Government Whips to accept expenses-paid visits of this kind. Questions of probity, I should imagine,

would be for the Select Committee on Members' Interests to determine, but from a foreign policy perspective I see no

problem.

2. There are at least two precedents of which we are aware: Mr Goodlad and John Taylor MP each went on sponsored visits to Hong Kong as serving Whips. It is also common for Ministers (from all departments) to accept the Governor's hospitality when visiting Hong Kong, (to stay at Government House etc), although Hong Kong does not offer (nor would Ministers accept) sponsored fares.

CONFIDENTIAL