PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
presentation of them had been mishandled.
11. As he was leaving, Mr Rogers mentioned that he had been invited to visit both China and Taiwan, and was planning to take up both invitations. He expressed an interest in briefings in due course, and undertook to keep in touch with
us.
Comment
12. Mr Rogers acknowledged that there were inconsistencies in his views. He also emphasised that he was not making snap judgements about a complex issue. I think he was also struck by the willingness of people in a number of different walks of life to put smooth relations with China above democracy in their order of priorities. He commented at one point that the encouraging result in LegCo would lead him to continue to hold his fire for the moment on the constitutional proposals. But clearly we cannot bank on the truce continuing indefinitely.
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PF Ricketts
PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
rogers.hk.GEN.KR
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fax
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Moch pl; Moss lamp:
PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
for fabelts, Head of HKD
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for this note.
The Minister was
Mr Hum
grateful
6.5. Davey 13/11
CM 12/11
PS/MY Gogalad Minister
HONG KONG : MR ALLAN ROGERS MP
1.
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"HUB 210/1
FROM: P F Ricketts
Hong Kong Department
DATE: 12 November
cc: Sir J Coles o.r.
An 12111
I have recorded separately comments by Mr Allan Rogers,
when he called on you on 11 November, about his visit to Hong
Kong.
2.
There was one additional point which we thought was not
suitable for inclusion in a record which was copied to Hong
Kong. When Mr Rogers was describing the animosity to the Governor's proposals which he found in the business community, he specifically mentioned Mr Purves as the source of some of
these views. He said that Mr Purves had made clear privately
that in his view the Governor had gone too far. He had added
that while support for the Governor in Hong Kong had been
up to 80%, it was now down to about 60% and falling. Mr
Rogers commented that Mr Purves' private views were close to
those of the Business and Professionals Federation, even
though Mr Purves had distanced himself from their public
statement on the grounds of his ExCo membership.
3. Mr Purves' comments had clearly made a considerable
impression on Mr Rogers.
Lichett
PF Ricketts
PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
purves. GEN.kr
HUB Zial File
2101
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pa 200/1 Labon Party when
File Note
The following were the main points discussed when Mr Allan Rogers MP called on the Governor on 27 October:-
(a)
(b)
(c)
! (a)
G.P. 82
Mr Rogers said that he was pleased with his programme, although some of his meetings had been a little pedestrian. GIS was being very helpful in response to his suggestions for changes. He had had an interesting talk to some expatriates in Hong Kong and had obtained a better understanding of their fears and anxieties.
Mr Rogers said that he did not think the Governor had gone far enough in his proposals on constitutional development, but he accepted that he might have gone as far as he had felt able to do. This was particularly so in the light of the recent Chinese reaction. He wondered, however, whether the Chinese would do more than simply make hostile statements, and whether they would be prepared to change everything in 1997. He was concerned about the separation of ExCo and Legco being a precedent for the post-1997 period.
He
The Governor said that he saw this argument. But ExCo was the remnant of an old colonial model. He had considered three options. First, that LegGo ERGO members should be used as the core of Hong Kong Government support in LegCo. This had been the previous approach and had not worked well, There was also the problem of double appointments and it made it difficult to develop LegCo as he thought necessary. Secondly, the idea of a coalition, as proposed by Martin Lee. This raised problems of confidentiality and collective responsibility. also felt that it was wrong to replicate in private the political debates that normally took place in LegCo in public. Thirdly, the separation approach which he had eventually chosen. This meant that he could select the best advisers from the community for appointment to ExCo and let LegCo run its own affairs. He had also proposed ways in which he could make himself accountable to LegCo. But he had accepted that this approach might only be appropriate at this stage of Hong Kong's development, and that he might wish to change it later. There had been surprisingly little disagreement with his approach and much more focus on the proposed arrangements for 1995.
The Governor said that the Chinese and the business community did not understand three points. First, that resisting all demands for democratic development would not promote stability. Secondly, that it was not sensible to turn Martin Lee and the liberals into martyrs. Thirdly, that nearer 1997,
CONFIDENTIAL
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