G.F. 316
SECRET
7
12.
In
particular,
amending the BEC
Ordinance
in the
suggested
in
para.
10
above
will,
in
effect,
be
manner
publicly disclosing the deadline for the talks, since we will
then need to explain that 30 April 1994 is justified on the
basis of concluding the talks by December 1993. In order to
avoid setting a public deadline (which will by itself tempt
the Chinese to push us over it), we could seek to provide
in the amending legislation
deadline for the BEC
to
power to the Governor to set a
submit MC boundary recommendations
Even then, we could not avoid
at some point in the future.
the pressure to disclose our real deadline for the talks;
we will also risk some legislators trying to impose their own
deadline in the course of the legislative process. Either way
it would be a very messy affair.
13.
On balance, we recommend the "do nothing" option.
Timing Considerations
14.
legislative
need
to
If
the
probably
we would
amendment
route is chosen,
announce
a decision in the
Thereafter, we should ould
Legco by 27 October
Governor's Legco Address on October 6.
move
rapidly
to
introduce a bill
to
(there are only two normal Legco sittings in October :
13th and 27th). This should just allow us time to complete
SECRET €2