HKB 012/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
08 JAN 1990
SECRET
Mefail, HID Thank you.
FROM:
DATE:
CC:
RJT McLaren
2 January 1990
PS/Mr Maude PS/PUS
Mr Gillmore
4
PS
DESK OFFICER
REGISTRY
INDEX
PA
Action Taken
HONG KONG:
Migs Major W41.
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Mr Paul,
HKD
Mr Burns, News Dept Mr Lidington
Mr Fraser
1. I am reluctant to add to the papers which the Secretary of State has seen on this issue over the holiday period, but he may find it helpful to glance at the attached minute by Mr Paul and its enclosure in advance of his office meeting on 3 January.
2. Mr Paul's paper was discussed with me in draft. I would emphasise the following points:-
a) The Basic Law will set the constitutional framework for 1997 and beyond. Our overriding objective at this stage must surely be to use what influence we have to secure the best attainable Basic Law provisions. Once the Basic Law has been enacted and promulgated it will be set in concrete: there is very little likelihood that the Chinese will change the relevant provisions before 1997.
b)
The number or proportion of directly elected seats has become something of a touchstone. But there are other important issues regarding the election of the legislature - and of the Chief Executive - which are outlined in the paper. We need to secure improvements in these areas too.
c) If the Governor is to stand any chance of doing a deal with the Chinese during his visit to Peking from 10-12 January, he will have to be able to negotiate. In practice he will need to be able to trade fewer directly elected seats in 1991 (say 15) in return for improvements in 1997. If his brief is simply to state a British intention to have 20 (or 18) directly elected seats in 1991 and argue for more in 1997, he will in effect be repeating the exercise which Sir P Cradock undertook in December, with negative results.
d) There is no objective reason why final decisions on the number of directly elected seats in 1991 need be taken now. It makes greater sense to take that decision in the light of the outcome of the Governor's visit and of the Secretary of State's own visit to Hong Kong. If it is then plain that the Chinese are not going to move, it would still be open to Ministers to go for the Basic Law maximum (or more) in 1991- If Ministers judged that the benefits outweighed the risks outlined in Mr Paul's paper.
SECRET
/3.