are certainly not leaving it all to Chinese good
intentions. We have already been engaged om a
confidential dialogue with the Chinese which we beleive
has influenced the drafting process, and our aim will be
to ensure that the revised draft takes account of the
concerns expressed in Hong Kong, some of which you refer
to in your letter. You will, however, have seen from
Hansard that it is recognised on both sides of the House
that the drafting of the Basic Law is the sovereign right
of China. That means We have to take account of Chinese
sensitivities. To conduct a dialogue with the Chinese
authorities by public proclamation would be counter
productive. I remain convinced that the sort of firm
pressure we have been exerting behind the scenes is most
likely to yield positive results.
Incidentally, Tim Eggar's wind up speech in the debate
made it pretty clear that the kind of points we are
putting to the Chinese (especially in Cols 751-2 of the
Official Report) include precisely the concerns you
mention in your letter. We have already formally given a
copy of the report to the Chinese authorities. They have
welcomed the constructive views put forward and
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undertaken to take them into account.