YEP
GA PSE
ZCZC
HMLNAN 4079
323
HKR011/1
CEIVED IN REGISTRY
BUSK
2 8 NOV 1985
PA oy ра
CONFIDENTIAL
INDE
DD 271330Z FCOLM
DD 28010OZ PEKIN
FM HOKON TO FCOLN
27114OZ NOV
GRS 800
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKEY 27133OZ FCO
TELNO 2653
OF 27114OZ NOVEMBER 95
INFO DESKBY 280100Z PEKING
313
MY TELNO 2648: SECOND MEETING OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP : REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT : DISCUSSION IN EXCO.
1. THE PRINCIPAL ISSUES ADDRESSED BY THE COUNCIL, APART FROM THOSE COVEPED IN MY TUR, WERE:
(A) WHAT EXACTLY WERE THE CHINESE SEEKING TO OBTAIN?
(B) WHY WERE THEY NOW EXPRESSING SUCH PROFOUND CONCERN ABOUT REFORMS OF WHICH THEY HAD HAD FULL KNOWLEDGE FOR SOME TIME?
(C) HOW COULD WE BEST ENSURE GENUINE CONVERGENCE BETWEEN OUR OWN REFORMS AND THE BASIC LAW?
2. ON (A), THE COUNCIL AGREED THAT THE CHINESE OBJECTIVE WAS TO SECURE A COMMITMENT FROM THE BRITISH SIDE THAT NOTHING MORE WOULD BE DONE TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM IN HONG KONG WITHOUT CONSULTING THE CHINESE IN ADVANCE. THIS WAS FOUNDED ON THE ERRONEOUS BELIEF THAT WE HAD A CLEAR CUT PLAN DESIGNED TO PRE-EMPT ALL THE IMPORTANT PROVISIONS OF THE BASIC LAW. MEMBERS CONSIDERED THAT THEPE WOULD BE ADVANTAGE IN WILSON EMPHASISING AGAIN TO KE IN THE MARGINS OF