CONFIDENTIAL
211
125026
MDHIAN 7927
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2099
OF 061207Z JULY 90
HKD24.
TRY
12 JUL 1990
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TOP COPY Q DIST?
MY 3RD IPT: BILL OF RIGHTS: SUBMISSION TO EXCO: CHINA DIMENSION
1. QUOTE DURING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE ON THE BOR ON 27 JUNE, BOTH THE HONOURABLE TAM YIU-CHUNG AND THE HONOURABLE HO SAI- CHU SPOKE STRONGLY AGAINST THE INTRODUCTION OF A BOR ON THE GROUND THAT THERE WAS NO NEED FOR SUCH A BILL IN VIEW OF THE RIGHTS ALREADY PROVIDED FOR IN CHAPTER 3 OF THE BASIC LAW AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF A BOR BEING INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE BASIC LAW. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN TENUOUS INDICATIONS CONVEYED TO US BY THE CHINESE
SIDE IN PRIVATE INDICATING THAT THEY MIGHT BE MOVING TO A POSITION WHERE THEY DID NOT OBJECT TO THE BOR IN PRINCIPLE, BUT WOULD CONCENTRATE ON SEVERAL POINTS OF CONCERN. THEY HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THEY WOULD NOT OFFICIALLY RAISE THESE CONCERNS UNTIL THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY THE BILL INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WE HAVE GIVEN THE SENIOR CHINESE REPRESENTATIVE TO THE JLG A BRIEFING ON OUR CURRENT THINKING ON VARIOUS ISSUES RAISED DURING THE CONSULTATION PERIOD AND WILL CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO ALLAY WHATEVER CONCERNS THEY MAY RAISE WITH US AFTER THE FIRST READING OF THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. OUR ASSESSMENT IS THAT THE CHINESE ATTITUDE NOW HANGS IN THE BALANCE. IF MR MAUDE'S VISIT TO PEKING GOES WELL, AND WE ARE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR CONTACTS HERE IN ALLAYING MAJOR CONCERNS, THE CHINESE MAY EVENTUALLY ACQUIESCE IN THE BILL, POSSIBLE AFTER SOME FACE-CHANGES. THIS IS HOWEVER NOT BY ANY MEANS YET ASSURED. UNQUOTE
FORD
YYYY
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