SECRET
HKに
011/3
RECEIVED IL MOISINY
11 JUN1934
DESK O・ドバ
PA
PŁCISTRY
gion Token)
0112
isz
INDEX
Mr Clift, Hong Kong Dept
Ma
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Future of Hong Kong: Papers for OD(K)
The Secretary of State saw in the box over the weekend your two minutes of 8 June covering respectively papers on Constitutional Development and Government Structure; and Acceptability. He had substantial comments on both and therefore wished to discuss them with you and others. concerned before circulating them to colleagues on OD(K). I have therefore asked the Cabinet Office to postpone the meeting of OD(K) which was fixed for 1630 on 13 June. The Cabinet Office are looking for a time in the middle of next week; we shall now hold an office meeting to discuss both these papers at 1630 on 13 June. All those to whom this minute is addressed are invited.
Constitutional Development
The Secretary of State shared all Dr Wilson's reservations (his minute of 8 June on the papers) on the
proposals
for the selection of the Governor. He is concerned not least by the reaction of the Chinese to the publication of proposals along these lines. He recalls seeing in a recent Peking telegram that the Chinese are thinking in terms of joint selection of the Chief Executive towards the end of the transitional period. He is therefore worried that these proposals would come as a bombshell to the Chinese and risk wrecking the talks.
The Secretary of State believes that these reservations need at the very least to be reflected in the covering commentary and/or a minute from him to colleagues covering the papers.
But it will then be clear that the Secretary of State has important misgivings about the Governor's proposals, and he would be asked at OD(K) for his own prescription. He has no clear view on this at the moment and will wish to consider the problem further at his office meeting.
I should also let you know that the Secretary of State has expressed some surprise that a paper of this importance and political sensitivity has been circulated to EXCO before Ministers here had had the chance to see it. We realise of course the extreme time pressure under which you and the Governor are working. You might wish to let the Secretary of State know at the meeting on Wednesday the background to the production of this paper.
محمد
Acceptability
The Secretary of State has made a number of comments on the draft paper attached below. His two main points are:
SECRET
7(i)