GRS 2300
SECRET
SECRET
FUTURE EGRET
DESKEY FCO 21110OZ
FM MONG KONG 211000Z JUNE 64
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1673 OF 21 JUNE
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
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2 1 JUN.34
Exter
15.
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79
FUTURE EGRET:
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE.
1. THE FOLLOWING PAPER DISCUSSES THE QUESTION OF THE SELECTION OF
THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG BETWEEN 1992 AND 1937.
BACKGROUND
2. ON JUNE 30 1997 THE BRITISH ADMINSTRATION OF HONG KONG WILL COME TO AN END. THE NORMAL PATTERN WOULD BE FOR HMG TO ESTABLISH A DEMOCRATIC STRUCTURE IN HONG KONG AND HAND OVER POWER TO AN INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENT. IN HONG KONG THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE, AND SOVEREIGNTY AND THE RIGHT OF ADMINISTRATION WILL HAVE TO BE PASSED TO CHINA, A COMMUNIST STATE.
3. GIVEN THIS UNWELCOME SITUATION, HMG'S AIM IS TO COMMIT CHINA TO GIVING HONG KONG A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY BASED ON A REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT. TO THIS END WE ARE SEEKING TO SPELL OUT THE AUTONOMOUS STATUS OF HONG KONG IN A BINDING INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT. WE HAVE ALSO PROPOSED THAT THE MEMBERS OF BOTH THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE COCNCILS SHOULD BE ELECTED, AND THE GOVERNOR SELECTED BY A FROCESS OF ELECTION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROCEDURES APPROVED BY THE HONG KONG LEGISLATURE.
4. THE CHINESE ACCEPT IN PRINCIPLE THAT HONG KONG SHOULD BE AUTONOMOUS. BUT THEY HAVE NOT COMMITTED THEMSELVES ON THE FUTURE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT AFTER 1997. THEY HAVE EXPRESSED AN INTENTION TO DISCUSS THIS THROUGH THEIR OWN CHANNELS WITH PEOPLE IN HONG KONG BEFORE INCORPORATING NEW ARRANGEMENTS IN THE BASIC LAW. THEY HAVE SAID ONLY THAT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE WILL NOT BE CALLED A GOVERNOR AND WILL BE SELECTED BY CONSULTATION OR ELECTION.
5. THE CHINESE CONCEPT OF THE HANDOVER OF POWER IS DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF HMG. IT IS HMG'S INTENTION TO ESTABLISH AUTONOMY IN HONG KONG SO THAT THE AUTONOMOUS SAR CAN BECOME THE NATURAL SUCCESSOR TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. THE CHINESE HOWEVER HAVE MADE CLEAR THAT THEY WISH HMG TO HAND OVER THE WHOLE ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING THE ASSETS AND RECORDS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, THE THE CENTRAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT, AND THAT IT WILL THEN BE FOR THEM TO HAND OVER TO THE S.A.R. GOVERNMENT. THEY ALSO SEEK TO HOLD HMG DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG UNTIL 1997 AND FOR A
SMOOTH HANDOVER.
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