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“KUNG
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TALKS WITH THE CHINESE: THE WAY AHEAD
TOP COPY JIST?
N.". Elections
077603 MDHIAN 1903
(23)
BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION BILL
1. IT IS NOT WITHIN OUR POWER, NOR WOULD WE WISH TO MODIFY OR DELAY THE BEC BILL. OUR AIM SHOULD BE TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF THE CHINESE MOUNTING A CAMPAIGN IN HONG KONG TO PREVENT ITS PASSAGE, BUT TO SAY SOMETHING TO THEM IN PEKING BEFORE THE NEXT ROUND DESIGNED TO MOLLIFY THEM AND LET US GET AHEAD.
2.
I DO NOT THINK WE SHOULD SAY ANYTHING TO THEM BEFORE 26 MAY WHEN THE BILL IS DUE TO COMPLETE ITS REMAINING STAGES IN LEGCO. WE CANNOT AGREE TO WITHDRAW OR SUSPEND THE BILL AND THEREFORE ANYTHING WE SAID BEFORE IT IS IN THE BAG MIGHT ONLY FUEL THEIR EFFORTS TO FRUSTRATE US. I SUGGEST INSTEAD THAT WE REVERT TO THEM ON THE AFTERNOON OF 26 MAY. WE CAN REPEAT THAT THEY HAVE HAD THE BILL SINCE 21 JANUARY, THAT THEY WERE TOLD THEN THAT IT WOULD SHORTLY BE INTRODUCED TO LEGCO, THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN OF ITS PASSAGE THROUGH LEGCO OVER THE PAST FOUR MONTHS, BUT THAT THEY NEVER RAISED THE SUBJECT WITH US UNTIL 23 MAY. IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO ADD THAT THE BILL DOES NOT ABOLISH THE APPOINTED DB SEATS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS FACTUALLY CORRECT. I DOUBT IF WE COULD SAY MUCH MORE THAN THIS WITHOUT PREJUDICING OUR FIRM PLAN TO ABOLISH THE APPOINTED SEATS.
ROUND FOUR
3.
WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW THE CHINESE TO GAIN THEIR OBJECTIVES BY SALAMI SLICE TACTICS. WE SHOULD NOT THEREFORE AGREE TO SETTLE THE QUESTION OF DISTRICT BOARDS AND MUNICPAL COUNCILS BEFORE MOVING ON TO OTHER ISSUES. WE CAN ONLY JUDGE HOW WE INTEND TO STRIKE A DEAL WHEN WE HAVE THE FULL CHINESE PICTURE.
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