GRS 270
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
SECRET
A ENDED DISTRIBUTION 1 APRIL 1986
TO DESKBY 27090OZ FCO
TELNO 937
OF 27023OZ MARCH 86
UNFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
HKK O!!!!
RECENED IN REGISTRY
- 3 APR 1986
(161)
IMPEX
MIPT: REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT AND THE BASIC LAW
AB3/0
1. THERE ARE, OF COURSE, DANGERS IN SEEKING TO INFLUENCE THE DRAFTING OF THE BASHC LAW. HOWEVER, WE CANNOT EXPECT TO EXERCISE . ANY INFLUENCE IF WE DO NOT GIVE A CLEAR STEER TO WHO MAY BE ABLE TO AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF THE DRAFTING PROCESS. WE ARE GIVING THOUGHT TO A FURTHER VERSION OF THIS PAPER WHICH WOULD SEEK TO MINIMISE THE DANGERS TO WHICH YOU REFER BY EMPHASISING, AT LEAST IN THE OPENING PARAGRAPHS, THAT THE CONTENT OF THE PAPER IS DESIGNED TO ENSURE FAITHFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, A MATTER ON WHICH HMG HIS COMPETENT TO EXPRESS VIEWS.
2. IN ANY CASE, WE HAVE BEEN SPECIFICALLY ASKED BY A DELEGATION OF LAWYERS, INCLUDING BLDC MEMBER MARTIN LEE, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BAR ASSOCIATION, MR. DENNIS CHANG, FOR OUR VIEWS ON THE BASHC
LAW. WE BELIEVE THAT THEY CAN BE TRUSTED TO HANDLE ANY VIEWS
CONVEYED TO THEM WITH REASONABLE CARE. WE CANNOT, HOWEVER, MAKE
THE SAME ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE STUDY OF THIS PAPER AS ARE MADE FOR
SENSITIVE EXCO PAPERS. HIT WOULD MAKE THE EXERCISE TOO CLOAK
AND DAGGER' OF WE TRIED TO DO SO.
3. WITH A FURTHER REDRAFTING EFFORT, THE RISKS #NVOLVED IN GIVING THIS PAPER TO A SMALL AND CAREFULLY SELECTED NUMBER OF BLDC AND BLCC MEMBERS, COULD N OUR VIEW BE REDUCED TO AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL.
YOUDE
HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
RESEARCH D (FE)
DEP/HD PUSD
PS/MR RENTON MR WILSON
SECRET
162