HKB 010/5
Mr Ricketts
PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS
SECRET
FROM: M V Stone
Hong Kong Department
DATE: 19 December 1991
cc: Mr Burns
Mr Cox
Mr Wye, RAD
Miss Brooks,
Legal Advisers
вы
ad
2
1991 Gile
1. I find the CPU paper unduly pessimistic: the leap from what Chinese officials have said, to "the CPG Programme"
(pages 8 to 11) is too far fetched. But the theme behind
the paper
that the CPG will wish to decided on the Principal Officials
-
consideration.
-
bears further analysis and
2.
But
Unless there is some other body or person which China finds acceptable, I agree it is possible that the CPG will
feel it necessary to decide whom should be the first
Principal Officials. Whether we shall be able to persuade the Chinese to consider our list is another question. this is not the position set out in the Basic Law. BL 48 (5) states that the Chief Executive (CE) shall have power "to nominate and to report to" the CPG the appointment of Principal Officials. Thus the CE should decide who will be
his Principal Officials. This flags up one reason for
having a CE acceptable to the Chinese in place, or at least
in the wings, well before 1997. Are there others?
MVSAAR/1
SECRET