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REF.
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 373 OF 19 APRIL, 1974.
FROM HKIOD.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION: CONSTITUTIONAL ADVANCE.
1. MR JAMES JOHNSON MP HAS PUT DOWN A QUESTION FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
ON 30 APRIL TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHAT STAGE OF FURTHER
CONSTITUTIONAL ADVANCE HE PROPOSES FOR THE CROWN COLONY OF HONG
KONG.
2. WE PROPOSE TO RECOMMEND AN ANSWER ON THE FOLLOWING LINES:-
THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG ARE SPECIAL AND, FOR EXAMPLE, MAKE
VERY DIFFICULT ANY DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS AN ELECTED FORM OF
GOVERNMENT. THE SITUATION IS WELL UNDERSTOOD LOCALLY.
3. THIS PROPOSED REPLY IS BASED ON A SUPPLEMENTARY NOTE TO WHICH
YOU AGREED EARLIER (MY TELEGRAM NUMBER 286 AND YOUR NUMBER 335).
GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS BY 230900Z, PARTICULARLY IN THE LIGHT
OF MR JOHNSON'S PRESENT VISIT.
104. BECAUSE OF THE PARLIAMENTARY RECESS, WE ONLY RECEIVED NOTICE
OF THE QUESTION TODAY, ALTHOUGH MR JOHNSON PRESUMABLY PUT IT DOWN
. BEFORE HE LEFT FOR HONG KONG.
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