SECRET
DESBKY 220930 (FCO)
DESKBY 22080OZ (HONG KONG)
SECRET
FROM PEKING 22074OZ FEB 84
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
HKK.
011/3
23 FEB 1984
TELEGRAM NUMBER 302 OF 22/2/84
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: WORKING PAPER ON CONSTITUTIONAL
ARRANGEMENTS AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES.
1. THE PHRASE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT'' IS EVIDENTLY CONFUSING THE CHINESE IN OUR PAPERS ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND IN THE TITLE OF THE ABOVE PAPER. THE CONFUSION APPARENTLY DERIVES FROM THE SIMILARITY OF THE TERM CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO THE TERM THEY USE TO DESCRIBED THE GOVERNMENT IN PEKING, WHICH IS ''CENTRAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT''. SINCE IN ANY CASE
1
OUR PAPER ON CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES IN FACT DEALS WITH BOTH CENTRAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES IN HONG KONG, WE PROPOSE TO OMIT THE WORD CENTRAL FROM THE TITLE. THE TERM DOES NOT
APPEAR ELSEWHERE IN THE PAPER.
2. THE GOVERNOR IS IN FULL AGREEMENT WITH THIS. UNLESS YOU OR HONG KONG OBJECT BY 23003DZ, WE SHALL HAND OVER THE PAPER IN AMENDED FOR TO THE CHINESE.
EVANS
82
See (84
See 83
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
ED/FED
ED/PLANNING STAFF
ED/PUSD
D/ED/PUSD (MR FLOWER)
PES.D. (MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
SIR W HARDING
MR DONALD
AIR WRIGHT
SIR C TICNELL
COPIES TO:
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS NEWS D
MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVS
MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST
MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE
MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE
MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D
PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR P CRADOCK RX KĪ95
BIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET
SECRET