SECRET
1
These are indeed fascinating despatches, both for the historical background they provide and for the succinct account of recent developments over representative government in the last few years. The forward-looking paragraphs (para 23 et seq of the 1988 White Paper' despatch) are important. I have been struck myself by the somewhat ad hoc way in which we have been dealing with constitution making for Hong Kong, both as regards what we ourselves do before 1997 and as regards our efforts to shape the Basic Law for the post-1997 SAR. The Hong Kong Government in 1984 was less well supplied with lawyers experienced in such matters than it is now. But it is still far from being strong in this area. Hence the Governor's wish to establish some kind of think tank to come up with ideas for dealing with the difficult and in many ways unique aonstitutional problems which are going to have to be
Constitutional experience, imagination, and a keen nose for what is politically desirable and practicable will all be needed.
tackled.
Penfant
RJT McLaren
31 March 1988