187
GRS 110
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1020
OF 08073OZ APRIL 86
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TOP COPY
CONFIDENT I AL
YOUP TELNO 507: FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
TIMETABLE FOR 1987 REVIEW:
1. WE SEEM AGREED THAT THERE IS ENOUGH FLEXIBILITY IN THE TIMETAPLE
AS A WHOLE.
2. A) PERIOD FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE GREEN PAPER. THERE IS A VIEW
IN UMELCO THAT A SUBSTANTIAL PERIOD IS DESIRABLE. FOUR MONTHS
SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT, BUT WE CAN WAIT UNTIL DECEMBER TO EVALUATE
UMELCO AND PUBLIC FEELINGS BEFORE GOING FIRM ON THIS.
B) TWO MONTHS RETWEEN PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER AND COMPLETION
OF AMENDMENTS TO LEGISLATION AND LETTERS PATENT MAY INDEED BE A
LITTLE OPTIMISTIC. IT IS BASED ON OUR ASSESSMENT OF THE LIKELY
OUTCOME, AS YOU WILL APPRECIATE. THE AMENDMENT EXERCISE COULD
CERTAINLY RUN ON INTO MARCH 1988 AND STILL LEAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR
THE NECESSARY PROCEDURES TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE ELECTIONS IN
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER.
YOUDE
MINIMAL HKD
CONFIDENTIAL
HRK OLLLL
RECEIVED DI REGISTRY
TRUEX
- 9 APR 1986
SKFICER
AB
2047