130

Separate Copies to:

Mr Pakenham, ACDD

Mr Alston,

Defence Department

Mr Masefield, FED

наи

From: A D F Henderson Date: 10 December 1985

Han 040/15 04015

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

16 DEC 1985

DESK OFFICER

Mr Galsworthy,

INDEX

HKD

Mr Goulty,

NENAD

Mr Kenyon,

NED

Mr Hartland-Swann,

SEAD

Mr Short,

PUSD

Mr Day,

MED

PAPERS FOR MR RENTON

PA

REGISTRY

Actyon Takena

M. love.

pa

Precundialé Th. Leeks,

M.

19

1.

Mr Renton is visiting Syria, Lebanon and Israel and will be returing on the evening of Monday 16 December. I would be grateful if you could let me have, in the usual way, a brief summary of any significant developments that have occurred within your area during the Minister's absence. Contributions should reach me please by 1500 on Monday afternoon.

As rendutan

A D F Henderson APS/MR RENTON

20/12

[NRIAJC]

HAM 040115

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13 DEC 1985

DESK OFFICER

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1

CONFIDEN TIAL

FROM: A C Galsworthy

REGISTRY

DATE:

ΡΑ

13 December 1985

ction Taken

Sir W Harding o/r

HONG KONG:

cc: Dr Wilson

DEVELOPMENTS IN YOUR ABSENCE

129

1.

absence.

The following developments have taken place in your

Ji Pengfei

2 •

visit as the guest of the

Mr Ji Pengfei, the Chairman of the Hong Kong and Macau

office of the Chinese State Council and Chairman of the Basic

Law Drafting Committee, arrived in Hong Kong on 10 December.

He is paying a three day official

Hong Kong Government, to be followed by 10 days as the guest of

the NCNA. In his first few days Ji has toured Hong Kong, had

lunch with the Chief Secretary and me t the Governor twice for

talks. The visit has received substantial press coverage both

in Hong Kong and in the UK.

3.

-----

As previously agreed with us the Governor used his

meetings with Ji to initiate an

informal discussion

on the need

for convergence between the development of representative

government in Hong Kong

Kong up to 1997 and the Basic Law. At his

first meeting with Ji the Governor explained how Hong Kong

works now, emphasising the factors that make it dynamic. Ji

explained the time table for the drafting of the Basic Law.

the second meeting the Governor dealt with the development of

representative government.

In doing this he adopted a

substantially more conciliatory tone th an he had at first

proposed. He emphasised our commitment

At

to the 1987 review and

the need to reassure the professional classes. He

continuing dialogue was necessary to build trust

two sides. Ji accepted

that we were

said that a

between the

1987

committed to the

CONFIDEN TIAL

1:|:བ

CONFIDENTIAL

1

a

wide

review, but suggested that press reports of demands for

variety of constitutional changes were causing anxieties

amongst some Chinese leaders, and suggested that we should slow

things down. Ji did not make any commitments but he adopted a

moderate attitude, and hopefully this meeting will represent

the first steps in an informal dialogue.

Governor's telegrams reporting the meeting.

Constitutional Development

4.

I attach the

I have arranged a meeting with the Secretary of State on

20 December at 1130 for a general discussion on constitutional

light of the Joint Liaison Group meeting in

development

in

Peking.

Basic Law Consultative Committee

5.

The members of the Executive of the Basic Law

Consultative Committee and its office

selected.

holders have been

accordance with the

The Executive was elected in

constitution of the BLCC, but the office holders were named

from on high rather than elected.

Following considerable

controversy about the constitutionality of this step, the

Executive was reconvened and the same office holders formally

elected. A typical Chinese muddle.

Nationality

6.

The Parliamentary debate on the Hong Kong nationality

Order in Council has been put off until early January. The

order was debated by LegCo on

4 December, and Unofficial

members made a number of proposals with which we will have to

deal in the Parliamentary debate.

Эдий

13 December 1985

A C Galsworthy

Hong Kong Department

CONFIDENTIAL

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