\ GRS 180
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESK BY 07103OZ FCO
TELNO 055
OF 070935Z JANUARY 87
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
1
SECRET
HKK
01112
RECEIVED IN REGISTICY
13 JAN 1967
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REGISTRY
PA
Jon Taken
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
OUR TELNO 39 : 1987 REVIEW
1.
WE HAVE NOW DISCOVERED THAT THE LAST SENTENCE OF PARA. 4 OF TUR IS NOT STRICTLY CORRECT. LU PING DID RESPOND TO THIS SUGGESTION WHEN HE DISCUSSED TRILOGY IT WITH DR. WILSON ON 15 OCTOBER 1986. THIS WAS RECORDED IN PARA. 2 A OF PEKING TELNO 2009 AND PARA 6B OF PEKING TELNO 2019. WE THEREFORE SUGGEST REPLACING THE LAST TWO SENTENCES OF THE PARAGRAPH BY THE FOLLOWING:
''IF THE CHINESE COULD BE PERSUADED THAT THE RELEVANT SECTIONS OF THE BASIC LAW SHOULD BE COUCHED IN TERMS WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF DIRECT ELECTIONS, WITHOUT THE NEED TO PRESCRIBE RIGIDLY THE NUMBER OF SEATS OR THE TIMETABLE FOR THEIR INTRODUCTION, THERE WOULD BE LESS RISK OF DIRECT CONFRONTATION ARISING ON THIS ISSUE. A SUGGESTION THAT THE BASIC LAW SHOULD NOT BE UNDULY RIGID CONCERNING THE PROPORTION OF SEATS IN THE LEGISLATURE TO BE ELECTED BY DIFFERENT MEANS WAS MADE IN THE PAPER (THE COVERING NOTE TO TRILOGY II) PASSED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO FOREIGN MINISTER WU XUEQIAN IN OCTOBER 1986. THE INITIAL RESPONSE SUGGESTS THAT THE CHINESE HAVE ACCEPTED THE NEED TO AVOID RIGIDITY, BUT THEIR CONCERN REMAINS THAT, IF THE BASIC LAW DOES NOT CONTAIN DETAILED PROVISIONS, UNCERTAINTY WILL RESULT.''
AKERS-JONES
YYYY
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HU/FED
RESEARCH DEPT (FE)
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