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SECRET
DESKBY FCO 1210307
FM PEKING 12094OZ APR 84
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
SECRET
TELEGRAM NUMBER 730 OF 12 APRIL
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
FOLLOWING FROM GOVERNOK
HKK
01113
13 APRI94
DEUR ORAZZARS
YOUR TELNO 372: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND STRUCTURE
OF GOVERNMENT
1. AS YOU WILL HAVE SEEN FROM THE REPORTING TELEGRAMS,
THE CHINESE HAVE NOT RAISED THE QUESTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL
DEVELOPMENT DURING THIS ROUND. IF THE SUBJECT COMES UP
DURING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT, I WOULD SEE NO
OBJECTION TO HIM DRAWING ON THE TALKING POINTS IN PARAS 5 AND 6
OF HONG KONG TELNO 932. BUT IN THE LIGHT OF WHAT THE CHINESE
HAVE NOW SAID ON ITEMS 2 AND 3 OF THE AGENDA, I THINK IT WOULD
BE BEST TO SAY NOTHING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF DIRECT ELECTIONS
(PARA 7 OF HONG KONG TUR). THERE IS NO NEED TO DO SO, AND I WOULD SEE STRONG DISADVANTAGE IN GIVING A COMMITMENT TO
(NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) CONSULT THE CHINESE ON ANY ASPECT OF HONG KONG'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS IN THE PERIOD BEFORE 1997 WHEN WE ARE
SO FAR APART ON HOW CONSULTATION DURING THIS PERIOD SHOULD
BE HANDLED, AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE CHINESE SHOULD BE ALLOWED
TO INFLUENCE POLICY.
2. THE AMBASSADOR AGREES.
EVANS
- FUTURE OF HONG KONG
INLAMED
COPIES TO:
LANNING STAFF
PUSD
D/ED/PUSD
PES E. (R TALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (MR FREELAND).
FS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/ME. LUCE
PS/PUS
SER J BULLARD
SIR W FAEDING · MR WILSON
MR. WRIGENT STER C THCREENPL
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
DXORIQUER
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS
HR BURROWS
MR COLES NO
I ́EWS D ́
LEGAL ADVS
10 DOWNING ST
MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE
MR GOODATHIL,
CABINET OFFICE
MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR P CRADOCK RM KIRS
BIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET
SECRET
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