GRS 850
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESK BY 24090OZ FCO
TELNO 3937
OF 24052OZ NOVEMBER 86
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
Confidential
kayden
моле No Owh pre cleN JR replies
with Ho arap но
(as awarded)
FOR LAYDEN, HKD, FROM GOVERNOR
MY SECOND IPT: MY VISIT TO LONDON
1.
TEXT OF DRAFT ANSWERS TO SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS IS AS
FOLLOWS:
BEGINS
Kec.
POLITICAL REFORMS
Q1.
THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS INDICATIONS FROM CHINESE OFFICIALS,
MAINLAND BLDC MEMBERS AND SECTIONS OF THE OFFICIAL CHINESE MEDIA
THAT THE 1987 REVIEW SHOULD BE PUT OFF UNTIL THE FIRST DRAFT OF
THE SECTION OF THE BASIC LAW ON THE FUTURE POLITICAL SYSTEM IS
READY. THIS WOULD ENSURE CONVERGENCE BETWEEN POLITICAL REFORMS
IN HONG KONG AND THE BASIC LAW. DO YOU SEE THIS HAPPENING?
A1.
BOTH THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS ARE COMMITTED
TO HOLDING THE 1987 REVIEW AND TO INCLUDING IN IT THE QUESTION
OF WHETHER AN ELEMENT OF DIRECT ELECTIONS SHOULD BE INTRODUCED
IN HONG KONG IN 1988. IT WILL BE A GENUINE REVIEW, WITHOUT PRECONCEIVED IDEAS AND WITHOUT PRE-DETERMINATION OF THE OUTCOME.
FULL ACCOUNT WILL BE TAKEN OF THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE
PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
Q2. DID YOU DISCUSS THE QUESTION OF CONVERGENCE** WITH
BRITISH MINISTERS?
A2.
MUCH OF WHAT WE DISCUSSED INEVITABLY CONCERNED THE IMPLEME-
NTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE SMOOTH TRANSFER OF
GOVERNMENT IN 1997.
Q3. DID YOU DISCUSS THE METHOD OF ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC OPINION
TO THE 1987 REVIEW?
A3.
Q4.
THIS WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL QUITE SOON.
WILL YOU RAISE THESE SUBJECTS WITH CHINESE OFFICIALS DURING
YOUR VISIT TO PEKING?
A4.
1 EXPECT TO MEET CHINESE OFFICIALS WHILE IN PEKING. NO DOUBT WE WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS MATTERS OF MUTUAL
INTEREST.
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