NEUTRAL.
SECRET
104735 MDHIAN 006
(C) PARA 26, FIRST TIRET: WE WONDER WHETHER IT IS NECESSARY AT THIS STAGE TO SOUND QUITE SO POSITIVE ABOUT THE BL RESTRICTIONS ON ELIGIBILITY FOR PRINCIPAL OFFICIAL POSTS. THE RIGHT OF ABODE RESTRICTION WAS UNILATERALLY AND VINDICTIVELY ADDED BY THE CHINESE TO THE RESTRICTIONS WHICH WE ACCEPTED IN THE JD. AGAIN WE SHOULD PREFER NOT GIVE AWAY A POINT NOW WHICH MIGHT BE USEFUL IN FUTURE NEGOTIATIONS. HONG KONG MIGHT JUST SAY:
''FIRST, IT HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SELECTION OF PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS. THE PROVISIONS OF THE JD AND BL ARE CLEAR
AND WELL-KNOWN.'
MCLEAN
YYYY
MAIN
.HK POLICY
59
DISTRIBUTION
66
NTCD
HKD
PUSD
FED
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS
LEGAL ADVISERS//MR GILES NEWS D
PLANNERS
RAD
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
SIR J COLES
MR HUM
ADDITIONAL
7
CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE (DIO)
PS NO 10.
CAOFF//MISS NEVILLE-JONES
CAOFF //MR SIBSON
NNNN
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