CONFIDENTIAL
Puro Roue of Leglo
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CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 06003OZ HONG KONG
TELNO 1960
OF 05180OZ NOVEMBER 91
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
YOUR TELNO 3479: REVIEW OF ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS
1.
MANY THANKS FOR THE CHANCE TO COMMENT ON SCA'S SPEAKING
NOTE.
2 =
WE ONLY HAD TWO THOUGHTS TO OFFER ON THIS:
- ON PAGE 5 OF THE VERSION AS FAXED TO US WE SUGGEST AMENDING THE FINAL SENTENCE OF THE PARAGRAPH TO READ ''FURTHERMORE, IF THE COURT WE ESTABLISH IS TO GIVE CONFIDENCE FOR THE FUTURE, THERE MUST BE NO ROOM FOR DOUBT THAT IT WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE AFTER 1997''. THIS SHIFTS THE EMPHASIS FROM WHETHER THE CHINESE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BLOCK THE COURT'S CONTINUATION ONTO THE ISSUE OF WHETHER THERE IS CONFIDENCE IN THE CONTINUITY OF THE COURT.
ON PAGE 10 WE THINK THAT THE FINAL PARAGRAPH AS DRAFTED HAS RATHER A STRONG FLAVOUR OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IMPOSING THEIR
VIEW, AND MAKES NO REFERENCE TO THE OPPORTUNITY FOR LEGCO TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS. WE SUGGEST A REDRAFT OF THE SECOND SENTENCE ON THE FOLLOWING LINES ''MINISTERS HAVE MADE CLEAR THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL RAISE WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT
BEFORE THE 1995 ELECTIONS THE PACE OF DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG, AT THE TIME AND IN THE MANNER WHICH THEY JUDGE MOST LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL. DURING HIS VISIT HERE IN SEPTEMBER, THE PRIME MINISTER CONFIRMED THE IMPORTANCE HE ATTACHES TO THE VIEWS OF OMELCO MEMBERS ON THIS ISSUE''
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