DD 210100Z HONG KONG
GRS 236
SECRET
FUTURE EGRET
2101002
SECRET FUTURE EGRET
175
de 1961
TOP COPY
HKCK 011/3
2 1 JUN 981
FM FCO 201630Z JUN 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1139 OF 20 JUNE
No
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
FOLLOWING FORGOVERNOR FROM CLIFT
A
174
27375
C
YOUR TELNO 1664 AND HONG KONG TELNO 1152: FUTURE EGRET :
173) CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE
1. WE UNDERSTAND WHY YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COMMENT ON OUR PAPER
IN DETAIL. CLEARLY THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MAJOR DIFFERENCES
WHICH WILL NEED FURTHER DISCUSSION. MEANWHILE, AS I EXPLAINED
IN FCO TELNO 1132, NO MINISTERIAL DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN ON THE BASIC QUESTION OF WHETHER A BRITISH APPOINTED GOVERNOR SHOULD BE
RETAINED UNTIL 1997 OR WHETHER A LOCALLY ELECTED GOVERNOR SHOULD
BE SUBSTITUTED. THIS MEANS THAT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT ANY
SECTION ON THE GOVERNORSHIP IN THE GREEN PAPER SHOULD NOT MERELY
BE DRAFTED IN GENERAL TERMS AS REGARDS TIMING BUT SHOULD NOT IND-
CATE (EG BY LOGICAL IMPLICATION) THAT A PARTICULAR FORM OF GOVERNORSHIP BEFORE 1997 IS PREFERABLE. THE OPTIONS SHOULD REMAIN
I AM SURE THAT YOU HAVE
OPEN.
THIS IN MIND BUT IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF YOU COULD TAKE IT
INTO ACCOUNT WHEN RECASTING THE GREEN PAPER.
2. WE LOOK FORWARD TO GETTING THE FIRST REVISION OF THE GREEN
PAPER ON 21 JUNE. WE HAVE A MEETING WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE
ON THIS SUBJECT FIRST THING ON 22 JUNE. IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL
IF YOU COULD GET US THE FINAL AMENDMENTS TO THE GREEN PAPER AND YOUR FURTHER THOUGHTS ON THE BASIC QUESTION DESKBY 220700Z. 3. PARA 2 OF PEKING TUR. WE ARE TAKING THIS INTO ACCOUNT IN
DISCUSSION WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
HOWE
LIMITED
COPIES TO
SIR P CRADOCK
MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISER
HD/HKD
HD/FED
SIR W HARDING
1
SECRET FUTURE EGRET
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1