CONFIDENTIAL
106
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO DESKBY 18093OZ FCO
TELNO 910
OF 18060OZ MAY 88
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
MCB 04012.
025143
MDHIAN 9810
TOP COPY O DIST ?
YOUR TELNO 1277: LORDS DEBATE ON DRAFT BASIC LAW
·
1. WE AGREE THAT IT IS SENSIBLE TO OFFER LORD CLEDWYN A RANGE OF
MOTIONS. WE ACCEPT THAT HE MAY BE UNHAPPY ABOUT OPTION (A) IN PARA 3
OF TUR AND AGREE THAT A COMPROMISE ALONG THE LINES OF OPTION (B)
WOULD BE A GOOD SECOND BEST. HOWEVER, EVEN WERE HE TO INSIST ON OPTION (C) WE THINK WE SHOULD NOT BE OVERLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CHINESE REACTION. ALTHOUGH WU XUEQIAN'S COMMENTS APPARENTLY DID NOT
MEAN CHINESE ACQUIESCENCE IN PARLIMENTARY OR LEGCO DEBATE ON THE
DRAFT BASIC LAW, WE THINK THAT THEY DID MEAN THAT THE CHINESE REALISED THE DANGER OF TRYING TO INTERVENE PUBLICLY. IF THE CHINESE DO PROTEST ABOUT A LORD'S DEBATE, WE COULD AS NECESSARY REPEAT OUR LINE THAT SUCH MATTERS ARE ESSENTIALLY OUTSIDE HMG'S CONTROL: AND
COULD POINT OUT THAT
(ANY VERSION OF) THE MOTION WOULD BE, LIKE
THOSE DISCUSSED IN THE CONTEXT OF A LEGCO DEBATE, NEUTRAL AS TO THE SUBSTANCE OF THE BASIC LAW.
DONALD
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ΜΑΙΝ
26
LIMITED
HKD
FED
PRU
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DISTRIBUTION
26
PS/LD GLENARTHUR
PS/PUS
MR MCLAREN
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