GPS 300 CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 080745Z MAY 85
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
CONFIDENTIAL
TELEGRAM NUMBER 872 OF 9 MAY
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE
HKK 040/21
[DIS: AMENDED. 9.55
TOP COPY
1. SHORTLY BEFORE DINNER ON THE FINAL DAY OF THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT
TO JIANGSU PROVINCE (MAY 6) XU JIATUN ASKED FOR A MEETING (HE HAD
PREVIOUSLY ONLY APPEARED AT DINNERS AND FOR SOME SIGHTSEEING).
2. HIS OBJECT WAS TWO FOLD:
TO
(1) TO CONFIRM THAT THE CHINESE WERE INTENDING TO INVITE
UNSPECIFIED MEMBERS OF UMELCO AND 'GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
SIT ON THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE. (IT EMERGED THAT BY **GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HE MEANT MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY.)
(11) TO ASK FOR A WAY TO BE FOUND BY WHICH THE BASIC LA bet
CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE IN HONG KONG (WHICH WILL PROBABLY BE
ENTIRELY UNOFFICIAL) WOULD NOT NEED TO BE REGISTERED BY THE HONG
KONG GOVERNMENT ON ITS FORMATION. (ALTHOUGH HE SAID THAT SOME PEOPLE
WOULD NOT WISHTO SIT ON IT IF IT HAD TO BE RGISTERED AS A
SOCIETY IN HONG KONG, THE PROBLEM IS ALMOST CERTAINLY ONE OF
POLITICAL SENSITIVITY FOR THE CHINESE.)
3. ON (1) THE GOVERNOR CONFIRMED THAT HE WARMLY WELCOMED THE
CHINESE INTENTION TO INVITE UMELCO MEMBERS AND THE JUDICIARY TO
SIT ON THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE. THE CHINESE WOULD NEED TO ENSURE
THAT IT HAD A REPRESENTATIVE SELECTION OF HONG KONG MEMBERS IF
THEY WERE TO BE SURE OF GETTING UNBIASED ADVICE ON A VITALLY
IMPORTANT SUBJECT.
4. ON (11) HE SAID THAT HE WOULD LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY
ON HIS RETURN.
5. XU, WHO WILL ALSO BE IN SHANGHAI, HAS NOT YET RAISED
THE JLG. THERE WILL BE A FULLER REPORT ON THE GOVERNOR'S RETURN. HADDON-CAVE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
.R
29
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER)
PS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
COPIES TO:(VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
OFFICE
MR MALLABY CABINET OFFICE KRD B C CHRISTOPHER. CABINET OFF. SIR P CRADDOCK, No. 10 DOWNING ST.
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
MR J CROWLEY, PUSD
CONFIDENTIAL