REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
5. THE PRESS WILL QUESTION MR. RENTON CLOSELY ON CONSTITUTIONAL
CHANGE. THE FEER ASSERTED CATEGORICALLY AFTER NOVEMBER JLG THAT THE
UK HAD CAPITULATED TO CHINESE DEMANDS THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO
CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE WITHOUT THE IR APPROVAL. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN
REPEATED STORIES THAT THE 1987 REVIEW IS TO BE AN EMPTY EXERCISE.
RECOMMENDED LINE IS IN PARA TWO AND THREE OF TUR.
THE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE ADDED:
(A) MINISTERS COMMITTED TO THE 1987 REVIEW. TOO EARLY TO SAY WHAT IT
WILL CONTAIN. IMPORTANT TO GAIN EXPERIENCE OF NEW LEGCO BEFORE
FORMULATING IDEAS FOR THE REVIEW.
(B) UNDERLYING THEME OF REFORM IN HONG KONG, BEGINNING WITH
INTORDUCTION OF DISTRICT BOARDS, HAS BEEN THE NEED TO BUILD ON EXISTING SYSTEMS TO EVOLVE AND IMPROVE, NOT DISRUPT. NO INTENTION
TO FOIST SYSTEMS FROM ELSEWHERE ON HONG KONG.
(C) PREDOMINANT CONSIDERATION TO ENSURE CONTINUATION OF HONG KONG'S
SUCCESSFUL RECEIPE AND RESPECT FOR HONG KONG'S PROVEN NEEDS.
6. THE QUESTION OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE FUTURE SAR EXECUTIVE
TO THE LEGISLATURE IS ALSO TOPICAL. ON THIS SEE MY SEPARATE TEL.
(TODAY'S TEL ON EXCO DISCUSSION)
SECURITY ISSUES.
7. MR RENTON MAY WELL BE QUESTIONED ON THE FAMILIAR SUBJECT OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES: AND THE RELATED QUESTIONS OF LEGAL/ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA. ON THIS:
(A) VASTLY INCREASED MOVEMENT OF VISITORS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA. NEVERTHELESS SYSTEM COPES WELL. GREAT EFFORTS ON BOTH SIDES TO IMPROVE COMFORT OF PASSENGERS. HONG KONG PROVIDING IMPROVED FACILITIES FOR MAINLAND BOUND PASSENGERS.
(B) SYSTEM FOR LEGAL IMMIGRATION WORKS WELL.
(C) ON LLEGAL IMMIGRATION, UNDERSTAND POSITION AGAIN BETTER AFTER BULGE LAST OCTOBER. HIGH DEGREE OF CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO
SIDES.
(D) SOME THOUGHT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE SITUATION OF WINES OF HONG KONG BELONGERS LIVING IN MACAU. UNDERSTAND CONSIDERATION IS BEING GIVEN TO MEASURES TO EASE SITUATION BUT CANNOT BE ON A GRAND SCALE.
(E) BOAT WIVES: UNDERSTAND THEIR PROBLEM BUT QUESTION FOR THE CHINESE. THERE IS A LONG QUEUE.
(F) ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION OF MONORS. DANGEROUS AND INDEFENSIBLE. HONG
KONG GOVERNMENT WILL KEEP UP PRESSURE TO END THIS ABUSE.
CONFIDENTIAL
ZEGAL