RESTRICTED
DD HONG KONG 250100Z
GRS 237
RESTRICTED
DESKBY 250100Z
FM FCO 241700Z FEB 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 352 OF 24 FEBRUARY
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
12
OP COPY
1595 - 1
HKK040/3.1.
RECKED IN
ER
T
The
YOUR TELNO
MOTION.
1.
(NOT TO PEKING) FUTURE OF HONG KONG: EARLY DAY
IT IS MOST UNLIKELY THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD FIND TIME
TO DEBATE THIS, EVEN IF IT WERE RAISED AT THE BUSINESS STATEMENT
ON
2.
MARCH.
SO FAR THIS MOTION HAS, AS YOU SAY, ATTRACTED 27 SIGNATURES, BUT FROM MP'S ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HOUSE. WE DO NOT ANTICIPATE ANY SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THIS NUMBER.
3.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH NORMAL PROCEDURES FOR SUCH MOTIONS, WE HAVE PROVIDED:
(A) A 'LINE TO TAKE' FOR THE LEADER OF THE HOUSE. (B) NOTES FOR SUPPLEMENTARIES.
4 (A) ABOVE REITERATES HMG'S COMMITMENT IN THE TALKS TO SEEK A SOLUTION ACCEPTABLE, INTER ALIA TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, WITH WHOM WE ARE IN CONTINUOUS CONSULTATION. IT ALSO UNDERLINES THAT IN DUE COURSE IT WILL BE FOR PARLIAMENT TO GIVE ITS VIEWS ON ACCEPTABILITY OF ARRANGEMENTS MADE WITH THE CHINESE,
TAKING HONG KONG'S VIEWS INTO ACCOUNT.
5. FOR (B) ABOVE WE HAVE PROVIDED NOTES ON:
(I) WISHES OF HONG KONG PEOPLE SEMI COLON
(II) CONSULTATION WITH THEM SEMI COLON
(III) ACCEPTABILITY OF PROPOSALS TO HONG KONG SEMI COLON
(IV) EXTENSION OF DEMOCRACY THERE.
THESE DRAW ON OUR COMPOSITE LIST OF NOTES FOR SUPPLEMENTARIES,
UPDATED AS APPROPRIATE AND TAKING PARTICULAR ACCOUNT OF YOUR
AMENDMENTS TO (IV). (WE WILL TELEGRAPH FULL REVISED LIST NEXT WEEK). HOWG
LIMITED
HKD
FED
MR DONALD
COPY TO HKGO,
LONDON
RESTRICTED
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