OCMIAN 7912
CONFIDENTIAL
00 HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
191645Z MAY
GRS 276
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 929
OF 191645Z MAY 86
AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
CONFIDENTIALL
37912
1
MY SECOND IPT: MEETING BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE
CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER: STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT
FOLLOWING IS SPEAKING NOTE FUR USE BY WILSON WITH KE ZAISHUO
BEGINS
1.
SECRETARY OF STATE HAS DESCRIBED OUR DESIRE TO ENGAGE IN
MORE INTENSIVE DIALOGUE ON STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT. HERE ARE
PAPERS PREPARED AS BASIS FOR DISCUSSIONE.
2.
PAPER I DESCRIBES HOW PRESENT GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS
IN HONG KONG OPERATE IN PRACTICE. OVER-EMPHASIS ON FORMAL
POSITION MAY BE MISLEADING. FOR EXAMPLE CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS
COULD SUGGEST HONG KONG UNDER CLOSE CONTROL FROM LONDON. NOT SO
IN PRACTICE. MANY OF HMG'S POWERS NOT EXERCISED WITHIN LIVING
MEMORY. NECESSARY COOPERATION ACHIEVED THROUGH FORMAL
CONSULTATIONS RATHER THAN FORMAL CONTROLS. HONG KONG ALREADY
EXERCISES HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY.
3.
SIMILARLY GOVERNOR'S POWERS MAY APPEAR WIDE. IN PRACTICE
EXERCISES POWERS THROUGH EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILE.
ALSO MACHINERY FOR INFORMAL CONSULTATION ON VERY BROAD BASIS.
PAPER II ANALYSES QUESTION OF CONVERGENCE, TAKING AS
STARTING POINT PRESENT STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG AND
4.
HKK 0261.
Aft
GISTRY - 2 JUN 1986
INDLX
TAY
Action Taken
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CONFIDENTIALL
LIDENTIFYING
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