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FM HONG KONG
TO PRIORITY PEKING
TELNO 95
OF 090911Z NOVEMBER 92
INFO PRIORITY FCO
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pa Legless)
032703
MDLIAN 3820
55
ра
Мав
HAB 017/4
YOUR TELNO 156 : GOVERNMENT LEGCO COMMITTEE
1. OUR POSITION WITH THE CHINESE AND ANYONE ELSE IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT-LEGCO COMMITTEE IS AN OPTION FOR LEGCO TO TAKE UP OR SET ASIDE AS THEY SEE FIT. THE CHIEF SECRETARY HAS MADE THIS
CLEAR IN TWO LETTERS AND LEGCO HAVE YET TO MAKE A FINAL DECISION ONE WAY OF THE OTHER. THE DIFFICULTY IS THAT MEMBERS HAVE BEEN
UNABLE TO SETTLE THEIR DIFFERENCES ABOUT THE SELECTION OF THE
LEGCO REPRESENTATIVES ON THE COMMITTEE.
2-
OUR LINE WITH LEGCO AND THE PRESS HAS BEEN:
(A) THE GOVERNOR MADE THIS PROPOSAL AS A MEANS OF
STRENGTHENING LIAISON BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION AND LEGCO.
(B) LEGCO MEMBERS HAVE HAD SOME DIFFICULTY DECIDING ON WHO SHOULD REPRESENT THEM ON THE COMMITTEE. THE INDEPENDENTS IN
PARTICULAR ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE POLITICAL BALANCE OF THE LEGCO SIDE OF THE COMMITTEE.
·
(C) THE CHIEF SECRETARY HAS WRITTEN TO MEMBERS TO SAY THAT
THE OPTION REMAINS AVAILABLE. IF THEY WISH TO TAKE IT UP THAT
WILL BE FINE. IF THEY WISH TO LEAVE IT FOR THE PRESENT OR EVEN REJECT IT, THAT IS ALSO FINE.
(D) THIS DOES NOT AMOUNT TO THE START OF A RETREAT FROM THE
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS. THE GOVERNMENT-LEGCO COMMITTEE IS AN
OPTION FOR LEGCO. THE OPTION REMAINS OPEN.
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