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Amended versions telegraphed to Rekking
FROM: A R Paul
Hong Kong Department
DATE: 1 February 1990
26
Hinnle
Mr Mclaren
PS/Mr Maude
PS
HKB012
MECEIVED
ZI FED 1990
SK OFFICE.
PA
CC: Mr Gillmore
M. Maude discussed this with My McLaren
Mr Lidington
Has moming. His will be subuutting Linstructions
to Su A. Donald on these non-number issues. Straversiz
HONG KONG: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: PAPERS ON GEC, VOTING METHODS
AND NATIONALITY RESTRICTIONS
A
1.
The Secretary of State's most recent message to the Chinese Foreign Minister delivered on 31 January, outlined the difficulties we have with Chinese proposals in the draft Basic Law concerning voting procedures, the establishement of a Grand Electoral College or Election Committee and nationality restrictions on members of the legislature.
2. If the Chinese accept our proposal for Mr McLaren to visit Peking he will wish to take up these three issues in more detail as well as continuing our discussions over numbers of directly elected seats. Even if a visit by Mr McLaren does not prove possible, we shall want to put our more considered views on these subjects to the Chinese through the Ambassador or some other channel.
3.
I submit notes on each of these three subjects. They are intended to form the basis of papers which will be handed to the Chinese side. They may need further editing depending on their exact function eg they may be used as speaking notes in which case they may need to be simplified. But they are intended to contain
the vital points which we wish to get across to the Chinese.
4. It is just possible that the Chinese may agree to a very early visit by Mr McLaren. It would be useful to have Ministerial
approval of these papers by the weekend.
CATAAE
ARPanc
A R Paul
SECRET