Reference.................................................
Apy
Mr T Smith
HKD
Cc Mr Fletcher-Cooke
FED
Mr Crowley, PUSD
CONFIDENTIAL
нив
20|1
RECEIVED A BLOD
10N/R1907
ON "THREE POWER TRIPODS " AND "THREE LEGGED STOOLS"
1.
I mentioned to Chinese Counsellor Zhang Youyun sometime ago that I had seen a translation of a report in the Hong Kong Ming Pao on 25 January, which discussed the implications for Hong Kong of recent changes in China and
to say that Deng Xiaoping had recently expressed disagreement with the "three power tripod" formula and that he also opposed such a "tripod" political structure in Hong Kong (as well as in China). I attach a copy translation of the Ming Pao report.
2.
Zhang Youyun's husband, Counsellor Song Mingjiang. referred to the Ming Pao report when I met him for lunch earlier this week. Song said that the Ming Pao item was incorrect in saying that Deng had referred to the "three power tripod" formula in connection with Hong Kong. He said that the "three power tripod" (= Sanquan
dingli) was nothing to do with the "three legged stool" (= Azp 脚
*
Sanjiao deng) formula for Hong Kong, earlier
criticised by the Chinese. Song said that the "three power tripod" referred to proposals for the separation of administrative, legislative and judicial powers made in discussions on reforming the Chinese political structure. Song added that "apparently" Deng had recently expressed opposition to such proposals.
Mafellen
K C Walker Asian Region
RD
OAB 2/125 210 6220
CODE 18-77
Q
16 February 1987
P.S. Since
reception
dictating the
on
не
Song had told me
12
above;
I saw
Zhang Yongan at
Fehnany. I mentioned to be that Atar Deng
had not mentioned the
"three fower trifisdl" in connection with Hong Kong. She
observed that
such reference.
as
far
as she was aware there had been
CONFIDENTIAL
no