CONFIDENTIAL
If we mak e
no
concessions
DSR 11C
on any of these
proposals,
the Governor of Hong Kong has advised that
there will be an open confrontation between HMG and
the Hong Kong Legislative Council.
not always easily, to come
We have managed,
through the last three
difficult years in Hong Kong, including the period of
the
conclusi on of the
agreement, without such a
to fail n ow would be very
very damaging,
confrontation:
undermine
not least to the Hong Kong Government, and it would
what we have achieved SO far by the
agreement. If we mak e no concessions, the Unofficial
members of the Hong Kong Executive and Legislative
Councils will not give up: they will send a
delegation here to lobby the Prime Minister, and they
will lobby extensively in Parliament against the
Since it cannot be amended in Parliament when
Order.
we put it forward for final approval, they will ask
for its rejection. I therefore think that we need to
consider what concessions might be possible.
The Governor of Hong Kong has advised
the three UMELCO requests, the one which is
strongly is that relating to
endors ement.
that ofe
held most
the
passport
ཀ
the
other two
If this were met, but
requests were not, it is unlikely that there would be
is
a confrontation between the Legislative Council and
HMG. From this point of view therefore, the crux
the question of the passport endorsement. This is an
where I think that a concession should
area
be
CONFIDENTIAL