CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 27010UZ HONG KONG
TELNO 2499
OF 261415Z SEPTEMBER 88
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
8
CONFIDENTIAL
(79)
134620
MRB 011/8.
MDHOAN 5326
TOP COPY
DIST ?
YOUR TELNO 3592: LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS
1.
WE WERE GRATEFUL FOR THE REPORT IN TUR. WE NOTED WITH INTEREST THE REVERSAL OF FORTUNES EXPERIENCED BY THE QUOTE LIBERAL CAMP UNQUOTE IN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE ELECTIONS. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS ON WHY THIS SHOULD HAVE TAKEN PLACE. DOES IT REFLECT GREATER CAUTION, OR CONCERN AT THE HIGH PROFILE THAT THE LIBERAL CAMP HAS TAKEN ON POLITICAL ISSUES? AND CAN ANY CONCLUSIONS BE DRAWN ON THE WAY FORWARD ON MAJOR CURRENT ISSUES EG THE BASIC LAW OR THE FUTURE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT?
2. PRESS COVERAGE HERE HAS TENDED TO PLAY UP THE UNREPRESENTATIVE NATURE OF THE ELECTIONS AND HAS GIVEN SOME PROMINENCE TO ALLEGATIONS OF IRREGULARITIES.
3. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW WHAT LINE YOU ARE TAKING ON THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTIONS, AND ON QUESTIONS CONCERNING FOR EXAMPLE THE LEVEL OF VOTER TURNOUT.
4.
WE INTEND TO SUBMIT TUR TO MINISTERS.
BECAUSE OF
MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO DO THIS TOMORROW. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR A RESPONSE TO THIS TELEGRAM DESKBY 2709OOZ TO ENABLE US TO MEET THIS DEADLINE.
HOWE
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
14
LIMITED
HKD
N N N N
DISTRIBUTION
14
MR MCLAREN