CONFIDENTIAL
828
(358
پروگ
OCMIAN 0828
CONFIDENTIAL
OO HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
021100Z DEC
GRS 243
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1898
HKK OIL
FO: VED IN REGISTRY
- 5 DEC 1985
-
1
ра
NERY
OF 021100Z DECEMBER 85
INFO ROUTINE PEKING
INLA
PA
• for: Taken
YOUR TELNOS 2567 AND 2574: HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED: LAND
COMMISSION
1.
WE FEAR THAT WE DO SEE A DIFFICULTY WITH YOUR PROPOSAL.
THIS IS THAT IT WOULD INTRODUCE THE CONCEPT OF 'THE GOVERNMENT OF
HONG KONG' INTO THE LETTERS PATENT FOR THE FIRST TIME. AT
PRESENT THE PROVISIONS OF THE LETTERS PATENT RELATING TO THE
EXECUTIVE REFER ONLY TO THE GOVERNOR, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND
SUBORDINATE OFFICERS. QUITE APART FROM NEEDING TO BE CLEAR, IF
WE INTRODUCE THIS NEW IDEA, WHAT WE MEAN BY THE GOVERNMENT OF
HONG KONG' AND TO DECIDE WHETHER THE CONCEPT SHOULD BE INCLUDED
IN THE LETTERS PATENT IN OTHER CONTEXTS THAN LAND, WE SHOULD
CONSIDER PARTICULARLY CAREFULLY WHETHER THE CHINESE WOULD NOT SEE
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TERM IN THE LETTERS PATENT AT THIS STAGE
AS AN ATTEMPT BY US TO DEVOLVE SIGNIFICANT POWERS OF HMG ON TO
HONG KONG WITH THE AIM OF MAKING HONG KONG MORE OF AN
'INDEPENDENT POLITICAL ENTITY'. GIVEN CHINESE SUSPICIONS,
WHICH WERE ALL TOO EVIDENT AT THE JLG, THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS.
2.
FIFOOT WISHES TO DISCUSS LEGAL ASPECTS OF YOUR PROPOSAL
FURTHER DURING HIS CURRENT VISIT TO HONG KONG, BUT WE SHOULD
WELCOME YOUR EARLY VIEWS ON THIS POLITICAL POINT.
HOWE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT:
RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD HD/FED
RESEARCH D. DP HD/PUSD
MR WILSON
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADUSRS MR WOOD
"
CONFIDENTIAL