GRS 550
CONFIDENT-FAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 343
OF. 31110OZ JANUARY 86
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT : PRESS STORIES.
HKK OIL/L
BECEVED IN REGISTRY 03 FEB 1986
INDEX
VIOLA
CESTRY
Action Take
PA
AjB 3/2
MY 2 IFTS REPORT A STATEMENT MADE TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT ON 30 JANUARY BY THE LEGAL ADVISER OF THE CHINESE MFA, CURRENTLY IN HONG KONG AS A MEMBER OF LU PING'S PARTY: AND AN ARTICLE IN THE JANUARY ISSUE OF THE PRO-COMMUNIST MIRROR MONTHLY MAGAZINE. SUBJECT TO YOUR VIEWS, WE PROPOSE TO CALL IN THE NONA EARLY NEXT WEEK TO
DEAL WITH BOTH.
2. ON THE FIRST, WE HAVE CONSIDERED PUTTING SHAO TANREN RIGHT IN THE CONTEXT OF A PLANNED FURTHER DISCUSSION BETWEEN HIM AND THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. WE DO NOT, HOWEVER, WANT TO SEE A DEBATE ON SUCH MATTERS GET IN THE WAY OF PRACTICAL DISCUSSION BY LAWYERS. (SHAO
WAS CLEARLY SPEAKING TO SOMEONE ELSE'S BRIEF. HE HAS NO DETECTABLE
POLITICAL TOUCH OF HIS OWN.)
3. WE SHOULD, THEREFORE, PREFER TO MAKE OUR RESPONSE TO NCNA, IN
THE FOLLOWING TERMS:
(A) MR. SHAO RAISED THE QUESTION OF A REPORTED COMMENT BY A MEMBER OF EXCO, AND APPEARS TO HAVE PUT FORWARD THE PROPOSITION THAT THE CHINESE AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS SHOULD CONSULT WITH EACH OTHER ON
WHAT TO SAY AND WHAT NOT TO SAY TO THE PRESS. THE NCNA WILL RECOGNISE THAT THIS IS IMPRACTICABLE AND UNREALISTIC. IT SUGGESTS A FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND THE PRACTICAL OPERATIONS OF THE PRESS. MR LU PING HAS HAD TO MAKE A WHOLE SERIES OF COMMENTS DURING HIS STAY ON MATTERS AFFECTING THE INTERPRETATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION.
THIS IS PART OF THE SAME PROCESS.
(B) AS THE GOVERNOR MADE CLEAR TO JI: PENGFE, MANY THINGS WILL BE DEBATED IN HONG KONG IN THE MONTHS AHEAD. THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT W LL HEAR MANY OPINIONS, NOT ALWAYS PALATABLE. THIS REFLECTS ACUTE PUBLIC INTEREST IN BOTH THE 1987 REVIEW AND THE DRAFT BASIC
LAW. AS MR. RENTON SAID TO ZHOU NAN: THE 1987 REVIEW MUST TAKE PLACE, AND MUST BE SERIOUS. IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS TO OUR AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG IF THE REVIEW SEEMED TO BRUSH ASIDE PUBLIC OPINION''. THE 1984 WHITE PAPER MADE CLEAR THAT DIRECT ELECTIONS WOULD BE ON THE AGENDA OF THE 1987 REVIEWS: AND MR XU JIU-TUN HIMSELF REFERED TO DIRECT ELECTIONS WHEN HE SPOKE
TO THE PRESS.
1 (4)
CANEDENTIAL
}
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