CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 4663
OF 09111OZ DECEMBER 87
INFO IMMEDIATE
PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
HKB 011/2.
15 DEC 1987
011/2.
675
036204
MDHIAN 9687
TOP COPY DIST.?
YOUR TELNOS 3193-95: VISIT OF MARTIN LEE TO LONDON: CALL ON LORD
GLENARTHUR
I AM GRATEFUL FOR LORD GLENARTHUR'S FIRM HANDLING OF THE
DELEGATION.
2. I AGREE THAT NEITHER THE PRIME MINISTER NOR THE SECRETARY OF
STATE SHOULD RECEIVE THE DELEGATION AT A LATER STAGE,
MINISTER
3. THE CONTENTS OF THE DELEGATION'S LETTER TO THE PRIME
ARE ENTIRELY PREDICTABLE. IT IS CLEARLY UNNECESSARY AND INAPPROP-
RIATE TO RESPOND IN DETAIL. I SUGGEST THAT THE REPLY, TO BE SENT ON BEHALF OF RATHER THAN BY THE PRIME MINISTER, MIGHT INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
(A) HMG'S INTENTION TO CONTINUE THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENT-
ATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG UP TO 1997 REMAINS UNCHANGED. THIS DEVELPMENT IS, HOWEVER, NOT LIMITED TO ANY ONE PARTICULAR MODEL OR FORM. HONG KONG MUST DEVELOP ITS OWN SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WHICH IS SUITED TO ITS CIRCUMSTANCES AND REQUIREMENTS, IN A WAY WHICH MEETS
THE WISHES OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
(B) HMG AND HKG HAVE TAKEN CARE TO CONSULT THE PEOPLE OF HONG
KONG AT EVERY STAGE, THIS WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE 1987 GREEN PAPER
WHICH DID PRECISELY WHAT THE 1984 WHITE PAPER SAID IT WOULD DO.
(C) THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION OF PROMISES HAVING BEEN BROKEN. IN PARTICULAR THE 1984 WHITE PAPER, WHILE RECORDING THE STATE OF PUBLIC OPINION AT THE TIME ON THE SUBJECT OF DIRECT ELECTIONS TO LEGCO, CON THE BASIS OF THE 364 SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED ON THE GREEN PAPER AS WELL AS COMMENT IN OTHER FORA) DID NOT (NOT)
CONTAIN A COMMITMENT THAT THEY WOULD BE INTRODUCED IN 1988. IT
DID. ON THE OTHER HAND, SAY THAT THIS ISSUE WOULD BE REVIEWED IN
1987.
(D) THE 1987 REVIEW WAS A GENUINE REVIEW. THE SURVEY OFFICE
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