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series of short papers which have helped to guide discussion.
During the State Visit to China the Foreign and Commonwealth
Secretary also explained to his counterpart that we were giving
thought to the question of the Chief Executive: that we should avoid
a Chief Executive (designate) waiting in the wings; and that we
would soon provide the Chinese with our detailed thoughts on this
issue.
19. It is proposed that a further short paper should be prepared for transmission to the Chinese, introducing the concept of the
creation of a government post for the Chief Executive (Designate) in advance of 1997. This would be passed to the Chinese Foreign
Minister under cover of a personal message from the Foreign and
Commonwealth Secretary. There will be opportunities for informal
discussion of the paper when the British team for the Sino- British
Joint Liaison Group (JLG) visits Peking for a meeting of the Group
in late November (although it is not intended that this should be
discussed in the JLG) and when the Governor of Hong Kong goes to Peking on other business in early December.
Recommendation
20.
It is recommended that Ministers:
(i) agree in principle that our policy should be to create
in the early 1990s a post of Deputy Governor which would be
filled by the Chief Executive (Designate) in advance of 1997:
(ii) agree that a paper should be passed to the Chinese Foreign Minister introducing the concept in general terms:
(iii) note the consequential issues discussed in the Annex to this paper.
Ministers will be consulted further on these in
the light of the Chinese reaction.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
October 1986
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