GRS 300 CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 312
OF 300655Z JANUARY 86
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG: PRESS LEAKS
YOU WILL BY NOW HAVE SEEN A FRONT-PAGE ARTICLE IN THE SOUTH CHINA
MORNING POST ON SUNDAY 26 JANUARY CLAIMING THAT DOCUMENTS SKETCHING
OUT OPTIONS FOR THE 1987 REVIEW WERE BEING DISTRIBUTED TO EXCO
MEMBERS. SUBSEQUENTLY, AN ARTICLE APPEARED IN THE CHINESE-LANGUAGE
HONG KONG ECONOMIC JOURNAL ON 27 JANUARY QUOTING AN UNNAMED MEMBER
OF EXCO AS HAVING GIVEN VIEWS ON THE LIKELY SUBSTANCE OF THE 1987
REVIEW. THE MOST NOTABLE POINTS WERE THAT DIRECT ELECTIONS WOULD
BE PRESENTED AS AN OPTION, AND THAT THERE WERE UNLIKELY TO BE
ANY PROPOSALS FOR CHANGE TO THE COMPOSITION OF EXCO.
2. WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY THAT THESE STORIES WILL
TRIGGER A FURTHER REACTION FROM ZHOU NAN. (IN SPITE OF A NUMBER OF
OBV NOUS OPPORTUNITIES, LU PING DID NOT (NOT) REFER TO THESE
PRESS STORIES WHEN HE DINED WITH THE POLITICAL ADVISER ON 27
JANUARY). WE ARE AGAINST A PREMPTIVE APPROACH TO THE CHINESE BUT
SUGGEST THAT THE FOLLOWING POINTS BE MADE THEY RAMSE IT.
(WE SHALL TAKE A SIMILAR LINE IN RESPONSE TO ANY NONA ENQUIRIES
HERE).
(A) THE POSITION REMAINS AS DESCRIBED TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
ON MANY OCCASIONS. THERE IS NO BLUE-PRINT.
(B) THE BRITISH SIDE IS COMMITTED TO A REVIEW IN 1987. THERE IS
AN EXTENSIVE DEBATE IN HK ON THESE MATTERS. KEEPING TRACK OF THE DEBATE, AND PREPARATORY WORK ON THE SUBJECT AREAS WHICH MIGHT FEATURE IN ANY CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENTS, 'S NATURALLY A
CONTINUOUS PREOCESS.
IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES, WE SHALL TAKE THE LINE THAT GOVERNMENT DOES NOT COMMENT ON SPECULATIVE ARTICLES ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AGENDA, WHICH IS CONFIDENTIAL. IF PRESSED WE SHALL FOLLOW THE LINE IN 3(A) AND (B) ABOVE.
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
COPIES TO:- MR ROBERTS
HKR OIL!!
Z,
ISTRY
30 JAN 1986
49
AB 347,
CABINET OFFIC
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
DEP HD/PUSD
HD/PUSD
RD (MR WALKER)
MR FIFOOT
MR WOOD
MR PEIRCE
MR MALLABY
NEWS DEPT LEGAL ADVISER$ LEGAL ADVISERS- ASSESSMENTS STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
MR DRC CHRISTOPHER CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR RENTON
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
SIR J FREELAND
MR WILSON
MR CROWLEY PUSD
CONFIDENTIAL