OCMIAN 2494
SECRET
DD 290100Z HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
281625Z OCT
GRS 455
SECRET
FM FCO
SECRET
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
G
72494 1
429
see 431
MRK
01111
RECEIVED IN SEC
3 1 OCT 1986
TO DESKBY 29010OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 2408
OF 281625Z OCTOBER 86
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
DESK OFFIC INDEX
PA
AUSTRY Action Taken
MIPT: PAPERS FOR OD(K)
IT
FOLLOWING IS DRAFT PAPER ON REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
BEGINS
33.
THE TWO EXERCISES UNDER WAY IN 1987, NAMELY THE 1987
REVIEW AND THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW, ESSENTIALLY INVOLVE
PARALLEL CONSULTATION OF THE SAME PEOPLE ON THE SAME ISSUES.
SHOULD, AT LEAST IN THEORY, BE POSSIBLE FOR THE TWO SIDES TO
ARRIVE AT THE SAME CONCLUSION. THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN OBJECTS
OF THE INFORMAL DIALOGUE THAT WE HAVE ESTABLISHED WITH THE
CHINESE. BUT IN PRACTICE, GIVEN THE INCREASING POLARISATION OF
OPINION IN HONG KONG AND THE SENSITIVITY AND INNATE CONSERVATISM
OF THE CHINESE, IT IS LIKELY TO PROVE VERY DIFFICULT. WE HAVE MADE SOME PROGRESS, AND OUR SUCCESS IN ESTABLISHING THE INFORMAL
DIALOGUE PROVIDES THE MEANS TO MAKE MORE. BUT TIME IS SHORT AND
THE GAP BETWEEN US STILL LARGE. THE PROBLEM OF DIRECT ELECTIONS,
AND HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM IN THE 1987 REVIEW, WILL BE AT THE SAME
TIME THE MOST DIFFICULT AND THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IN
SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS OVER THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
34.
AT THE SAME TIME THE (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) PRACTICAL
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE INTRODUCTION OF A DIRECTLY ELECTED ELEMENT
1
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