ZCZC
MILNAN 4818 OCMIAN 4818
CONFIDENTIAL
PP PEKIN
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
191230Z MAR
GRS 254
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO PRIORITY HONG KONG
TELNO 553
OF 191230Z MARCH 86
INFO PRIORITY PEKING((-)
CONFIDENTIAL
24818
1
HKKe# 124-13 RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 2 5 MAR 1986
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
REGISTAY Action Taken
ADB 2013
A
YOUR TELNOS 701 AND 646 AND PEKING TELNO 342:
AMENDMENTS TO THE LETTERS PATENT ON COMPOSITION OF LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL AND LAND
1.
MINISTERS HAVE BEEN CONSULTED ON THE PROPOSAL IN PARA 2
OF TUR, AND SEE NO OBJECTION TO SUCH A SCHEME IN PRINCIPLE. LEGAL ADVISERS ALSO SEE NO CONSTITUTIONAL DIFFICULTY IN WHAT IS
PROPOSED, BUT SUGGEST THAT IT MIGHT BE AS WELL TO ALLOW FOR AN
INCREASE OF MORE THAN TWO UPTO POSSIBLY FOUR OFFICIALS. A FORMULA
IN THE LETTERS PATENT OF 'NOT MORE THAN ELEVEN PERSONS' WOULD NOT
UPSET THE BALANCE OF THE LEGISLATURE, AND WE SEE MERIT IN
ALLOWING SOME ROOM FOR FUTURE EXPANSION: IT WOULD NOT BE
NECESSARY TO FILL ALL FOUR VACANCIES AT ONCE.
2.
WE SHARE YOUR AND PEKING'S ASSESSMENTS OF THE LIKELY
CHINESE REACTION. HOWEVER, WE WOULD WISH TO EXPLAIN THE REASONS
FOR CHANGE IN ADVANCE OF ANY PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT IN HONG KONG.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WILL NOW CONSULT WITH UNOFFICIALS IN MORE
DETAIL ON WHAT IS PROPOSED. GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD INFORM US OF
THE OUTCOME OF YOUR DISCUSSIONS, TO ENABLE US TO APPROACH THE
CHINESE AT AN EARLY STAGE.
1
CONFIDENTIAL