CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO
1203
OF 251645Z JUNE 90
HKD241
RECL
TRY
27 JUN 1990
AND TO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG PEKING
180
071516
MDHOAN 1408
TOP COPY Q DIST?
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM PAUL, HKD
PEKING TELNO 901 AND YOUR TELNO 1927: BILL OF RIGHTS: CHINESE ATTITUDE
2.
f
THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE CHINESE THROUGH ALL THE ARGUMENTS WILL BE WHEN MR MAUDE VISITS PEKING AT THE END OF JULY. HE WILL BE MAKING A MAJOR EFFORT TO ALLAY CHINESE SUSPICIONS ABOUT THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND, AT THE VERY LEAST, TO DISSUADE THEM FROM MAKING A PUBLIC ISSUE ON ENACTMENT WHICH WOULD BE DAMAGING BOTH IN HONG KONG AND THE UK.
3.
NONETHELESS, IT IS LIKELY THAT, IF WE CONTINUE WITH DRAFTING AND TABLING OF THE BILL ON THE BASIS OF THE CURRENT TIMETABLE, THERE IS A STRONG LIKELIHOOD THAT THE CHINESE WILL DENOUNCE IT. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HAVE YOUR ASSESSMENT OF:
(A) THE IMPACT ON HONG KONG PUBLIC OPINION OF THE CHINESE DENOUNCING THE BILL PUBLICLY:
(B) THE IMPACT OF THE CHINESE CONTINUING TO CLAIM PUBLICLY (AS THEY HAVE DONE SO ALREADY) THAT WE DID NOT CONSULT THEM AND THAT, HAD WE DONE SO, WE MAY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REACH AGREEMENT:
(C) THE USEFULNESS TO HONG KONG OF A BILL OF RIGHTS WHICH
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PAGE CONFIDENTIAL
Redacted under FOI exemption 27(1)|