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A JOINT GROUP BASED IN HONG KONG, AND TO THAT IMPORTANT EXTENT IS AGAINST OPTION D AS WELL, ALTHOUGH HE ACCEPTS THAT THE ELECTED
GOVERNOR WOULD NOT BE THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF AND THAT HMG WOULD RETAIN RESERVE POWERS COVERING FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND THE RIGHT TO
DISMISS THE GOVERNOR IF HE EXCEEDED HIS POWERS.
PROCEDURE
13. THE QUESTION OF CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE IS DIFFICULT. IN ORDER TO UNDERLINE OUR CONTINUING RESPONSIBILITY UP TO 1997, WE WOULD PREFER TO INFORM RATHER THAN TO CONSULT THEM ON CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS. THIS, HOWEVER, IS PROBABLY IMPRACTICABLE WHERE THE GOVERNORSHIP IS CONCERNED. WE SHOULD BE IN AN IMPOSSIBLE POSITION IF WE PUBLISHED PROPOSALS WHICH PEKING
THEN ATTACKED PUBLICLY. WE MUST FIRST DECIDE WHAT OUR AIMS ON
THE GOVERNORSHIP ARE AND THEN FLOAT THEM WITH THE CHINESE
SEPARATELY FROM, BUT IN THE CONTEXT OF, THE GREEN PAPER PROPOSALS OF WHICH WE SHALL SHORTLY INFORM THEM.
14.
THIS IS ANOTHER POINT ON WHICH WE DISAGREE WITH THE
GOVERNOR. HE BELIEVES THAT THERE IS LITTLE PROSPECT OF OBTAINING
THE SPECIFIC AGREEMENT OF THE CHINESE TO THE IDEA OF AN ELECTED GOVERNOR AND THAT BY SEEKING THEIR APPROVAL WE WOULD BE ACCEPTING
THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE THE POWER OF VETO. HE ALSO CONSIDERS THAT
THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THE CHINESE WOULD NOT ATTACK A
PUBLICLY-FLOATED PROPOSITION THAT AN ELECTED GOVERNOR SHOULD FOLLOW ELECTIONS TO THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, FOR
FEAR OF UNDERMINING THE CREDIBILITY OF THEIR CLAIM THAT THEY ARE
PREPARED TO LET HONG KONG PEOPLE RUN HONG KONG. IF THEIR
REACTION WAS SUCH AS TO MAKE THE FINAL STEP OF ELECTING A GOVERNOR UNWORKABLE, AT LEAST HMG WOULD BE SEEN TO HAVE TRIED AND
THE ONUS FOR THE SITUATION WOULD FALL ON THE CHINESE.
15. WE DO NOT FIND THIS A PERSUASIVE ARGUMENT. IT WOULD MEAN A
CONFRONTATION WITH THE CHINESE, IN WHICH NOT MERELY THE ARRANGEMENTS UP TO 1997 WOULD BE DISRUPTED BUT THE STRUCTURE OF
THE POST-1997 AGREEMENT COULD BE JEOPARDISED. THE PLACING OF THE
BLAME ON THE CHINESE WOULD BE OF NO LONG-TERM ADVANTAGE TO THE
PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
ENDS
Homk
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
PLANNING STAFF
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