20
we had "7 already.
Mr Haspel. 011/10
Pa
Da check
how mann
of Hese names
HKD we haver got.
Mr Bickets, HKD Me
this
HRB 012/7
From: Edward Bickham
Special Adviser
Date: 1 October 1992
HONG KONG'S CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
1.
1/10
ра
Thank you for copying the draft Dear Colleague' letter to me.
I have a few comments:
paragraph 7 I think the 'woulds' in the first half might
usefully become 'wills'.
paragraph 5,
line 9
paragraph 6
<
change 'possible' to 'acceptable'.
I think we need to sell the package more vigorously: I would suggest adding:
'The Governor has constructed a shrewd package which will very substantially increase the degree of democracy in Hong Kong. For example, through greatly widening the franchise for the
'functional' constituencies all 2.7 million economically active citizens will be enfranchised (compared wih 000,000 under the present system). The key proposals which are summarised in the attached annex include: carry on as drafted.
It now looks unlikely that the Foreign Secretary will be able to brief the Lobby on the morning of 7 October because of travelling on EC business. The draft passage on Hong Kong
in his speech reads as follows:
'Our task in this final chapter of our colonial history is to safeguard the prosperity and way of life of the people of Hong Kong. It is an historic enterprise, one which we must carry out honourably and well. In his speech tomorrow the Governor will outline his proposals for making the Government of Hong Kong more effective and more democratically accountable in the final five years of British administration proposals that have been worked out and agreed in the closest consultation with me and with the Prime Minister. His aim will be to strengthen democracy as much as possible in Hong Kong - in a way which will endure beyond 1997. That approach represents, I am convinced, the best way forward for Hong Kong.
I would also suggest adding the follofwng names to the distribution list for the 'Dear Colleague' letter: