SECRET
63421
SIDES IN THE LATTER YEARS OF THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD.
AT THE VERY LEAST WE FEEL WE NEED TO INCLUDE A REFERENCE TO
THE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS OF CONVERGENCE AND AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO BE DISCUSSED IN DUE COURSE:
B) WE FEEL THERE IS SOME INCONSISTENCY IN THE TREATMENT OF THE
GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE. AT SOME POINTS IN THE PAPERS IT IS
PUT FORWARD RATHER TENTATIVELY AS A CONCEPT WHICH MIGHT NOT
GAIN THE SUPPORT OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE. AT OTHER POINTS IT
IS THE NECESSARY BASIS FOR SPECIFIC PROPOSALS WHICH WE PUT
FORWARD (FOR EXAMPLE IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMPOSITION OF
THE LEGISLATURE):
C) THERE SEEMS TO BE A PARTICULAR PROBLEM ABOUT PAPER 3. THIS
SETS OUT WITH THE MINIMUM OF SUPPORTING ARGUMENT
A PREFERRED MODEL FOR THE COMPOSITION OF THE
LEGISLATURE, INCLUDING DIRECTLY ELECTED ELEMENT. NO
REFERENCE IS MADE TO THE PRESENT CONSULTATION OF THE HONG KONG
PEOPLE, ON WHICH WE CLAIM TO THE CHINESE TO BE KEEPING AN
ENTIRELY OPEN MIND. IF CAREFUL QUALIFICATIONS ARE NOT
WRITTEN INTO THE PAPER THIS CAN ONLY REINFORCE CHINESE
SUSPICISIONS THAT WE ARE HELL-BENT ON INTRODUCING DIRECT
ELECTIONS AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE
OUTCOME OF THE PRESENT REVIEW.
2. WE LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING THE OUTCOME OF THE PRELIMINARY
EXCO DISCUSSION TOMORROW. NO DOUBT YOU WILL EXPLAIN CAREFULLY
THE BASIS ON WHICH IT IS HELD AND THE PRELIMINARY STATUS OF THE
COMMENTS SET OUT ABOVE. IT IS PROBABLY BEST IF WE AWAIT YOUR
REPORT OF EXCO'S VIEWS BEFORE WE SENT OFF OUR TELEGRAMS
CONTAINING OUR OWN DETAILED COMMENTS.
3.
THEREAFTER WE AGREE THAT WE SHOULD TRY TO MAINTAIN THE
TIMETABLE ALONG THE GENERAL LINES OF PARA 4 AND YOUR TELNO 2486.
HOWE
OCMIAN 3421
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
COPIES TO:
HD/HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH DEPT.(FE)
DEP/HD PUSD
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/MR EGGAR
MR MCLAREN
MR GILLMORE
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Secret
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
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