CONFIDENTIAL
6. I hope this is helpful.
"
If we had a sight of your letter of 12 August we might over time, be able to build up a better picture, but I should emphasise again the attempt to base our policy for Hong Kong representation on a close comparison with provincial or autonomous region practice may not prove very rewarding. Arguing on the basis of Chinese practice in this area could weaken seriously some of the safeguards built into the Joint Declaration or the Basic Law. As the Chinese never cease to remind us, the watchword is "one country, two systems".
You
David
CONFIDENTIAL
D Coates