I
GRS 2000
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 2915
OF 30102OZ DECEMBER 85
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
SEORET
HKK 01111
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
444)- MY IPT: PART A: OPTIONS FOR THE 1987 REVIEW
GENERAL APPRAOCH
-
3 JAN 1986
AB 311
1. THE 1987 REVIEW MUST KEEP IN MIND THE UNDERTAKINGS GIVEN AND
COMMENTS MADE IN THE GREEN PAPER OF JULY 1984 AND WHITE PAPER
OF NOVEMBER THAT YEAR: AND THE UNDERTAKING NOW GIVEN TO THE CHINESE
THAT HMG WOULD BE READY TO DISCUSS WITH THEM THE NEED FOP CONVERGENCE
BETWEEN THEIR PLANS FOR THE BASIC LAW AND OUR PLANS FOR THE FURTHER
DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. THE OPTIONS WE PUT FORWARD
MUST BE SUCH AS TO COMMAND THE BROAD SUPPORT OF ALL SECTORS OF THE
HONG KONG COMMUNITY AND NOT PREJUDICE CONVERGENCE. THE VIEWS OF
ARTICULATE MINORITIES MUST BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BUT NOT
NECESSARILY REGARDED AS DETERMINANT.
2. ALL THESE ACTORS ARGUE IN FAVOUR OF NOT ENGAGING IN ANY
FUNDAMENTAL RESTRUCTURING OF THE GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM. TO DO SO
WOULD BE INCONSISTENT WITH THE STATED OBJECTIVES IN THE GREEN AND
WHITE PAPERS OF BUILDING ON WELL TRIED INSTITUTIONS, NOR IS THERE
NEED TO REDEFINE HONG KONG PRESENT DEGREE OF AUTONOMY AT LEAST
IN THE CONTEXT OF THE 1987 REVIEW.
THE GOVERNOR
3. THE CHINESE-GOVERNMENT WILL BE SUSPICIOUS AND PROBABLY
HOSTILE TO ANY TRANSFER OR DIMINUTION OF THE POWERS NOW VESTED
IN THE GOVERNOR. THEY WILL SEE IT AS AN ATTEMPT TO INCREASE
THE POWERS OF THE LEGISLATURE AND REDUCE THOSE OF THE EXECUTIVE.
THE WHITE PAPER RECORDED THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL CONTINUE TO BE
APPOINTED FORMALLY BY THE QUEEN UNTIL 1997. IT ALSO SAID THAT ANY
PROPOSALS FOR CHANGE IN THE POSITION AND ROLE OF THE GOVERNOR
WILL NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THESE
IMPORTANT ISSUES WILL BE CONSIDERED AT A LATER STAGE''. THERE WAS
NO SPECIFIC UNDERTAKING TO DO SO IN THE 1987 REVIEW: BUT THE
SUBJECT WILL HAVE TO BE MENTIONED.
4. THE GOVERNOR IS BOTH THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND THE PEPRESENTATIVE
OF HMG IN HONG KONG. THE JOINT DECLARATION IS SILENT ON WHETHER
THERE WILL BE ANY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT PEPPESENTATIVE IN HONG KONG
DISTINCT FROM THE SAR CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND ON WHAT POWERS AND
STATUS HE MIGHT HAVE (SEE PART !!).
5. THE OPTIONS FOR 1287 APE THEREFORE:
GEORET
| OPTION
445