CONFIDENTIAL
543
MDHIAN 1418
(F)
(G)
(H)
(I)
(J)
(K)
THE END OF THIS YEAR AND TO INTRODUCE DRAFT LEGISLATION
BY JULY 1990.''
NINTH TIRET:
WE SUGGEST A REPLY ON THE FOLLOWING LINES:
''HAVE ALREADY INDICATED TO CHINESE OUR VIEW THAT SINCE THE SAR WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC ORDER, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE COULD DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN TIME OF PEACE, JUST AS THE GOVERNOR CAN DO SO NOW.''
WE SHOULD NOT ANTICIPATE THE POSSIBLE CHINESE REACTION
TENTH TIRET:
WE SUGGEST A REPLY AS FOLLOWS:
''HAVE DRAWN HONG KONG SENSITIVITIES TO THE ATTENTION OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. DO NOT CHALLENGE CHINA'S SOVEREIGN RIGHT TO STATION CHINESE TROOPS IN SAR. BUT WOULD HELP CONFIDENCE IF HK'S SENSITIVITIES ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.'
ELEVENTH TIRET:
WE ASSUME THAT THE PHRASE ABOUT SAVING POWDER IS A COMMENT AND NOT/NOT PART OF THE REPLY.
TWELFTH TIRET:
IT WOULD BE SAFER IF THE REPLY WERE TO REFER TO '' CONTINUING PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF THE TERRITORY'' RATHER THAN ''CONTINUING ECONOMIC SUCCESS OF THE TERRITORY AND STRONG AND STABLE DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS''
FOURTEENTH TIRET:
·
THE GOVERNOR HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED THE DECISION OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO GO AHEAD WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SECOND AIRPORT AND ANCILLARY DEVELOPMENTS, INCLUDING PORT EXPANSION AND ASSOCIATED TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE. WILL BE THE BIGGEST INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT EVER UNDERTAKEN IN HONG KONG, COSTING DOLLARS 127 (POUNDS STR 10 BILLION) BILLION.
FIFTEENTH TIRET:
WE SUGGEST THAT THE LAST THREE SENTENCES OF THE PROPOSED
REPLY BE REPLACED BY THE FOLLOWING:
''THE PACE OF DEVELOPMENT FOR INTRODUCING DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR BOTH 1991 AND 1995 IS A SUBJECT OF INTENSE DEBATE IN HONG KONG. HOWEVER THERE IS LITTLE SUPPORT IN THE TERRITORY FOR 100 PER CENT DIRECT ELECTIONS BEFORE 1997. HMG AND HKG MUST BE GUIDED BY HONG KONG
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CONFIDENTIAL