§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to receive all members of representive delegations from Hong Kong on future visits; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EggarThe reception of a delegation by ministerial colleagues is a matter for consideration on a case by case basis in the light of the composition of the delegation and its purpose.
§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what discussions he has had with the Hong Kong Government concerning direct elections in 1988; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the principle of direct elections in Hong Kong commencing in 1988;
(3) if he will make a statement on the progress of political reform in Hong Kong.
§ Mr. EggarDevelopment in representative government in Hong Kong, including the question of the possible introduction of direct elections to the Legislative Council, is at present under review by the Hong Kong Government on the basis of an extensive survey of local opinion. The outcome of the review will be recorded in a Hong Kong Government White Paper following consultation between ourselves and the Hong Kong Government.
§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will meet a delegation from Hong Kong in 1988 to discuss direct elections and political reform; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will make a statement on the results of recent opinion polls conducted in Hong Kong on the Sino-British agreement to return Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty.
§ Mr. EggarA recent opinion poll in Hong Kong on attitudes to the joint declaration recorded that 28 per cent. of respondents considered it very good or quite good for the people of Hong Kong, while 45 per cent. considered it good in some ways and not so good in others.