RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1746
OF 290914Z JUNE 92
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
p.a. plo
EW
289)
154516
New Gor, MDHIAN 9654
(ic not already)
Ди
30/6
PRESS COMMENTARY: MAJOR TASKS OF NEW GOVERNOR
1. THE HONG KONG CHINA NEWS AGENCY ISSUED A SIGNED COMMENTARY YESTERDAY (28 JUNE) ENTITLED 'MR PATTEN WILL SHOULDER GREAT RESPONSIBILITIES. THIS WAS WIDELY REPORTED BY THE LOCAL PRESS. FULL TEXT OF THE ARTICLE IS BEING SENT TO ADDRESSEES BY FAX. THE MAIN POINTS ARE AS SUMMARISED BELOW:
(A) UPON HIS ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG, THE NEW GOVERNOR WILL IMMEDIATELY HAVE TO FACE SUCH MAJOR ISSUES AS HOW TO IMPROVE RELATIONS WITH CHINA, HOW TO AVOID UNNECESSARY 'SHOCKS', AND HOW TO ENSURE A STABLE TRANSITION. IF THE NEW GOVERNOR 'COULD CO- OPERATE FRANKLY WITH CHINA TO JOINTLY PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF CHINA, BRITAIN AND HK, THE ROAD AHEAD SHOULD NOT BE TOO ROUGH'.
(B) SINCE THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY IS ONLY FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, IT IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE THAT BOTH BRITAIN AND CHINA SHOULD ENSURE THE SMOOTH TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT AND CONVERGENCE WITH THE BL. THERE ARE CLEAR STIPULATIONS IN THE JD THAT BOTH GOVERNMENTS HAVE THE OBLIGATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES TO ENSURE SMOOTH TRANSITION THROUGH 1997.
(C) ACCORDING TO THE BL, THE FUTURE HKSAR SHALL HAVE AN EXECUTIVE-LED GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, RECENTLY THE BRITISH SIDE HAVE FLOATED A LOT OF SUGGESTIONS E.G. SCRAPPING OF EXCO'S RULES ON CONFIDENTIALITY AND COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY WHICH WOULD RESULT IN RADICAL CHANGES TO THE EXISTING POLITICAL SYSTEM. IT IS ́ IMPORTANT THAT THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE-LED POLITICAL SYSTEM SHOULD BE MAINTAINED SO AS TO CONVERGE WITH THE BL.
(D) ACCORDING TO THE 'THROUGH TRAIN' CONCEPT, THE BL PROVIDES THE FRAMEWORK ON THE COMPOSITION AND METHOD OF FORMATION OF LEGCO AND THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN 1995. CALLS FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE BL AND INCLUSION IN EXCO OF PERSONS WHO DO NOT SUPPORT THE BL WOULD SERIOUSLY HARM THE STABILITY OF HK.
HKD Goli
So. 1992
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