SECRET
174337
MDHIAN 4648
TRANSLATION IN PARAGRAPH 9 OF THE CHINESE TEXT. THE FIRST POINT WHICH HE HAD RAISED WAS RATHER MORE SUBSTANTIAL. PARAGRAPH 12
ADDRESSED THE REASONS WHY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD DECIDED. IN
ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES (INCLUDING THE OPINION RECORDED IN PARAGRAPH
6), THAT 10 DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS SHOULD BE SUBSTITUTED FOR 10
INDIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS.
6. KE SAID HE WISHED TO EMPHASISE THAT THE POINTS THAT HE HAD MADE
HAD BEEN OF A TECHNICAL NAT URE AND NOT POINTS OF SUBSTANCE. HE HAD RAISED THEM FOR OUR CONSIDERATION SINCE THE CHINESE SIDE THOUGHT
THAT THE TEXT AS IT STOOD IN THESE TWO REGARDS COULD LEAD TO SOME PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, IF THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES CONCERNED THOUGHT THAT NO SUCH PROBLEMS WOULD ARISE, THE CHINESE SAW NO OBJECTION TO OUR TEXT AS IT STOOD.
COMMENT:
7. KE'S CONCERN ABOUT THE TRANSLATION OF PART OF PARA 9 MAKES IT
CLEAR THAT THE CHINESE REALISE THAT THE PAPER WHICH I HANDED OVER ON 15 JANUARY, TOGETHER WITH ITS TRANSLATION, CONSTITUTES THE TEXTS WHICH WILL APPEAR IN THE WHITE PAPER. YOUR AND HONG KONG WILL PRESUMABLY HAVE NO DIFFICULTY OVER THE SUGGESTED CHANGE TO THE CHINESE TEXT IN PARAGRAPH 9. I IMAGINE YOU AND THEY WILL TAKE THE VIEW THAT HONESTY REQUIRES THE RETENTION OF THE FINAL SENTENCE IN
PARAGRAPH 6.
EVANS
YYYY
DISTRIBUTION
53
ΜΑΙΝ
52
HONG KONG AGREEMENT RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH (FE)
PUSD
PLANNERS
PS/LORD GLENARTHUR
PS/MR EGGAR
PS/PUS
MR MCLAREN
MR GILLMORE
ADDITIONAL
1
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
PAGE 2 SECRET
NNNN