GRS 800
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO PRIORITY FCO
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP
HKK OULL
REGISTRY
2 3 DEC 1985
TELNO 1849
OF 17085OZ DECEMBER 85
RECE
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR)
425
SOPY
FOR WILSON, AUSS
1598
lion Taken
1AB23
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 1988 TO HONG KONG: REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN IZ HONG KONG
1.
THE FIRST REQUIREMENT, I BELIEVE, IS TO REACH AN AGREED DEFINITION ABOUT OUR OBJECTIVE IN A DIALOGUE WITH THE CHINESE ABOUT REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. ONLY THEN WILL IT BE POSSIBLE TO DECIDE ABOUT THE MODALITIES.
2.
G
AS A CONTRIBUTION TO DOING THIS, I SHOULD LIKE TO START BY SAYIN
SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT LIES BEHIND THE CHINESE BEHAVIOUR DURING THE PAST FEW MONTHS. HAVE NOT SO FAR DONE THIS. THE CHINESE REQUEST THAT REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ON THE AGENDA FOR THE SECOND MEETING OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP (JLG) WAS MADE WHILE ** WAS ON TOUR IN FUJIAN. AFTER THIS, THERE SUPERVENED IN RAPID SUCCESSION THE ACTUAL MEETING OF THE JLG, MY VISIT TO HONG KONG AND LORD YOUNG'S VISIT TO PEKING. I SHALL CONFINE THIS TELEGRAM LARGELY TO MY THOUGHTS ABOUT CHINESE BEHAVIOUR. I SHALL FOLLOW UP TOMORROW WITH A TELEGRAM WHICH ADDRESSED THE PARTICULAR POINTS IN YOUR TUR.
3. 1 AM SURE THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MONOLITHIC CHINESE VIEW. BUT I BELIEVE THAT THE CONCERNS OF THE CHINESE INCLUDE THE
FOLLOWING.
(A) ANXIETY LEST A CLIMATE OF OPINION IS CREATED IN HONG KONG WHICH NARROWS THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS OPTION FOR CONSTITUTION DEVELOPMENT
AFTER THE 1987 REVIEW.
(B) ANXIETY LEST THE OUTCOME OF THE 1987 REVIEW SHOULD THEN REDUCE CHINESE ROOM FOR MANOEUVRE IN DRAFTING THE BASIC LAW, THE TIMETABLE FOR WHICH HAS NOW BEEN REITERATED BY JI PENGFE TO THE GOVERNOR
(C) APPREHENSION LEST FURTHER PROGRESS IN DEVELOPING A SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT WOULD GENUINELY DAMAGE THE PROSPERITY OR THE STABILITY OF HONG KONG OR BOTH AND
(D) (POSSIBLY) A BELIEF THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE NOT PARTICULARLY KEEN ABOUT FURTHER PROGRESS OVER REPRESENTATIONA
L
GOVERNMENT..
CONFIDENTIAL
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