HKK
011/3
из
RECEIVED IN MEGISTRY
13 JUN 1984
BEUR OFFICEA
TITY
INDEX
PA
SECRET
Private Secretary Original
This SOFY SET Information only
Astign on
1984
THE OFFICI
Parts)
INDEX
PA
Naz
Pornc
Fice 159
FROM: R D CLIFT HKD
DATE: 13 June 1984
REGISTRY
Action Taken
toEB
cc: PS/Mr Luce
PS/PUS
Sir P Cradock
Dr Wilson
Mr Orr, FED
Mr Burrows,
Legal Advisers
FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PAPERS FOR OD(K)
HICKOW//T.
1 (34/1.
MKK
Your minute of 11 June recorded the Secretary of State's comments on the papers on Constitutional Development and Government
Strucutre and Acceptability that I submitted on 8 June. We have
consulted the Governor and the Ambassador on the points made by the Secretary of State and I have discussed them with Sir P Cradock.
Constitutional Development
2. The Secretary of State expressed particular concern at the proposals for the selection of the Governor and the possible reaction of the Chinese to these. The Governor has explained B (ISU) (Peking telno 1094) that his proposals were based on the
understanding that it is HMG's policy to establish the maximum degree of locally based political power in Hong Kong before 1997,
and that a locally elected Governor is an essential element in
this.
3. The key point is whether we are really as certain as the Governor suggests about our aims in the last years before 1997.
is true that we have told the Chinese that we consider that the
Governor should be elected in and after 1997, but we have made no
commitment that we would ourselves introduce such a system before
then.
There seem to be two main alternative approaches:
(a) We should go, as the draft Green Paper proposes, for a local
Governor who would be selected through an electoral process sometime before 1997; or
(b) We should retain a more visible British presence by continuing
to appoint a Governor from London until 1997.
It
кине Sar.. Jeg for OD(K),
бивай
SECRET
/5.