CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 06123OZ FCO
ELNO 2647
OF 061104Z NOVEMBER 92
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
ADVANCE COPY
thats artz нив
(SE
026066 MDADAN 7783
FOR RICKETTS, HKD FROM GOVERNOR
HONG KONG: PAPER FOR OPD (K)
1. THANK YOU FOR SENDING US THE SECOND DRAFT OF THE PAPER FOR OPD (K). I THINK IT A VERY GOOD PIECE OF RICKETTRY.
2. I HAVE JUST A FEW SUGGESTIONS:
A) THE FIRST TWO SENTENCES OF THE 7TH PARAGRAPH MIGHT BE AMENDED
TO READ:
'EVEN IF WE SUCCEED IN GETTING LEGISLATION THROUGH LEGCO, THE CHINESE MAY DEPENDING ON THE EVENTUAL PACKAGE PASSED BY LEGCO SUSTAIN THEIR CAMPAIGN RIGHT UP TO THE LEGCO ELECTIONS IN 1995. IF THE PACKAGE IS NOT AGREED WITH THEM, THEY WILL PROBABLY THREATEN TO SET OUT DIFFERENT ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS IN 1997 AND MAY IN THE EVENT CARRY OUT THIS THREAT.
B) THE FOURTH SENTENCE OF THE 8TH PARAGRAPH MIGHT BE EXPANDED: THE VISIT HERE BY VICE-PREMIER ZHU RONGJI (16-18 NOVEMBER) WILL BE HELPFUL IN THAT: WHILE WELCOMING HIM GENERALLY, THE PRIME MINISTER WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE ROBUST SUPPORT TO THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS AND TO URGE THE CHINESE TO PUT FORWARD COUNTER PROPOSALS RATHER THAN JUST CRITICISE'.
C) IN THE 9TH PARAGRAPH, AFTER THE SENTENCE ON MY CRITERIA FOR THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS, THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL SENTENCES MIGHT BE ADDED: 'THESE CRITERIA HAVE INCIDENTALLY BEEN ACCEPTED
BY LU PING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE HE GAVE ON 23 OCTOBER'.
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D) IN THE ELEVENTH PARAGRAPH, ADD THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL SENTENCE AT THE END: 'WE SHOULD NOT, OF COURSE, FORGET THAT HONG KONG IS THE LARGEST COMPONENT OF OUR BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA. THE CHINESE HAVE ALREADY BEHAVED EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVELY OVER OUR PROPOSALS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE
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