GR 200
SECRET
011
MK K RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO.
17 AUG 1983
SECRET
DESK OFFICE. INDEX
PA
FN HONG KONG 163443Z AUG 83
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1204 OF 16 AUGUST
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
YOUR TELNO 759 AND PEKING TELNO 102: REVIEW OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
IT IS NOT INTENDED THAT THERE SHOULD BE ANY PUBLIC CONSULTATION WITH EG URBAN COUNCIL OR HEUNG YEE KUK. NOR WILL OPTIONS FOR CHANGE WHICH ARE TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE WORKING PARTY BE MADE PUBLIC.
2. IT IS, HOWEVER, INTENDED THAT THE GOVERNOR SHOULD INCLUDE IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN OCTOBER A REFERENCE TO THE FACT THAT THE PRESENT LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORGAINSATION IS TO BE REVIEWED. THIS WILL BE IN THE CONTEXT OF EXPRERIENCE TO DATE WITH THE NEED TO CONSIDER WHETHER ASSOCIATED ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGE- MENTS MIGHT BE IMPROVED. IT WILL BE CLEAR FROM THE REFEREENCE IN THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS THAT NO MAJOR CONSITIUTIONAL CHANGES ARE ENVISAGED AS A RESULT OF THIS REVIEW, AND, THEREFORE, THE QUESTION OF SPEKAKING TO NCNA BEFOREHAND DOES NOT ARISE. IN ANSWER TO ANY QUESTIONS SUBSEQUENTLY PUT TO US BY NCNA, WE WOULD MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE REVIEW WAS PART OF A CONTINUOUS PROCESS OF SEEKING TO ADJUST THE SYSTEM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO CATER FOR CHANGING NEEDS AND CIRCUMSTANCES.
3. IT IS NOT PROPOSED TO STRESS THAT THE REVIEW WILL BE UNDER- TAKEN BY THE WORKING PARTY AS SUCH, BUT A CONSCOIUS EFFORT WILL NOT BE MADE TO CONCEAL THE FACT THAT THE REVIEW WILL BE UNDER- TAKEN BY A WORKING PARTY.
HADDON-CAVE
LIMITED
HKD
FED
PS/ HR LUCE MR GIFFARD MR DONALD
THIS TELEGRAM WAS NOT ADVANCED
15
21
SECRET
Mr. Moore
/ Minh it's FK
in this basis but we must check that behing's Tissies are covered 82 ष्ट
16/5