utek 011/3
RECEIVED N «FCISTS
-8FEB 1984
IN OFFICER
PS/ME THEE MyLifer
Private Secretary
No
Isave
PA
SECRET
CONSTAN
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2
7/2
33/2/2
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See (54
FROM: R D CLIFT HKD
DATE: 3 February 1984
Cc: PS/PUS
Sir P Cradock
Mr Donald
Mr Thomson FED
Mr Burrows
Legal Adviser
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: WORKING PAPER ON CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE.
PROBLEM
1. The content of a working paper on Constitutional Arrangements
and Central Government Structures.
RECOMMENDATION
2. I recommend that the Secretary of State should minute the Prime
Minister, with copies to other members of OD(K), on the lines of the
attached draft.
BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENT
3.
This working paper is one of the most sensitive we have so far
drafted. It is closely linked with the issue of constitutional
development in Hong Kong between now and 1997 while we shall still be responsible for Hong Kong. We must avoid tying ourselves in
the working paper to points which would impede our freedom of action
during that period.
4. The draft paper take fully into account comments made by the
Governor and the Ambassador on an earlier draft. Because of the
Chinese New Year holiday however we could not receive their final
views on this revised version until after the weekend. It is being
submitted now since we need to move as quickly as possible in the production of working papaers. Any further comments which the Governor and Ambassador may have are not likely to be extensive and can be inserted before the paper goes to EXCO, together with any amendments required by Ministers.
Bir
R D Clift
3 February 1984
SECRET
Hong Kong Department