DD 180100Z HONG KONG
GRS 205
SECRET
DESKBY 180100Z
SECRET
FM FCO 171545Z FEB 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 305 OF 17 FEBRUARY
AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
(74)
21211
1
LAKK
0!113
2 CFCB 1984
CH. !KES
HONG KONG TELNOS 438 AND 439: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: WORKING PAPER
ON CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
WE ARE GENERALLY CONTENT WITH THE BRIEF IN SECOND TUR AND ITS
DIVISION INTO TWO PARTS. WE HAVE ONLY TWO POINTS:-
1.
(A) PARA 1(4)(A). IT SHOULD BE MADE CLEAR THAT THIS PARAGRPAH
DOES NOT REFER TO THE GOVERNOR, WHO WILL CONTINUE TO BE SELECTED IN
LONDON. USE OF THE WORDS 'COUNCILS AND BOARDS' RATHER THAN
'ORGANS OF GOVERNMENT' WOULD DO THIS. MOREOVER IT IS NOT TRUE TO
SUGGEST THAT THE SELECTION OF MEMBERS OF EXCO AND LEGCO IS NOW
CONDUCTED ENTIRELY WITHIN HONG KONG. WE SUGGEST ADDING THE WORD
'EVENTUALLY' AFTER 'ALSO'.
(B) PARA 2(D). WE ARE SLIGHTLY DOUBTFUL ABOUT THE WISDOM OF
BEING SO SPECIFIC EVEN IN INFORMAL DISCUSSION. MINISTERS HAVE NOT
YET TAKEN DECISIONS ON ANY DETAILS OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
BEYOND THOSE ANNOUNCED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY ON 15 FEBRUARY.
MOREOVER THE CHINESE MIGHT THINK THAT WE WERE FLOATING THESE
PROPOSALS TO SEE IF THEY WOULD OBJECT TO THEM. THIS WOULD
REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER DEGREE OF CONSULTATION THAN
YOUR PREVIOUS PRACTICE OF INFORMING NCNA IN ADVANCE OF PUBLIC
STATEMENTS.
HOWE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
HD/HKD
ED/FED
ED/PUSD
HD/PLANNING STAFF
D/ED/PUSD (MR FLOWER)
PES.B. (MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
SIR W HARDING
MR DONALD
MR WRIGHT
SIR C TICKEALL
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 ́
HR BURROWS LEGAL ADVS
MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST
MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFIC
MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE
MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D
PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR P CRADOCK RM K195
BIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET
SER CET
75)
See (76
{