(32)
SECRET AND
PERSONAL
constr
pa. sept.
Haviz α12/2
FROM: P F Ricketts
DATE:
CC:
Hong Kong Department
1 December 1992
PS/PUS
Sir J Coles
Mr Davies, FED
Mr Hum
PS/Mr Goodlad
Private Secretary
HONG KONG: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
1. Hong Kong telegram no 2805 (attached) records a very interesting series of conversations
last weekend.
(ra)
in Peking
2.
This is the first example we have had of senior Chinese officials offering ideas on what they might find acceptable by
way of amendments to the Governor's proposals. It is of particular interest that
seems to have authorised an
attempt to find a compromise, and to have narrowed down the area of discussion to arrangements for the Functional Constituencies
and the Election Committee.
3. The telegram also shows that the Governor's thinking is
evolving quickly in the direction of working up amendments to
his proposals on these two points, for surfacing through intermediaries in LegCo. He has put urgent work in hand in Hong Kong to see whether acceptable proposals could be developed
which were consistent with these Chinese ideas. As the telegram notes, it would then be necessary to consider whether such
hk.const.PET
SUM
SECRET AND PERSONAL
Redacted under FOI exemptions 27(1), 40(2) and 41.