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MDHIAN 4272
PROPOSALS. TAM YIU-CHUNG GAINED THE IMPRESSION FROM LU PING THAT THE CHINESE DID NOT SERIOUSLY EXPECT ME TO WITHDRAW MY PROPOSALS, BUT EXPECTED INSTEAD THAT THEY WOULD BE CHANGED DURING THE LEGCO
DEBATE.
5. THE CONTINUING EMPHASIS ON THE ''DIPLOMATIC FRAUD'' IS CLEAR. AS I COMMENTED BEFORE CHRISTMAS, I SUSPECT THAT THE CHINESE ESTIMATE THAT MY PROPOSALS ON THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES ARE LIKELY TO BE AMENDED. THEY ARE NOW TURNING THEIR ATTENTION TO THE ELECTION COMMITTEE.
6. IF AT THE END OF THE DAY LEGCO WERE TO AMEND MY PROPOSALS ON THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCES AND ELECTION COMMITTEE IN WAYS WHICH MET THE MAIN CHINESE CRITICISMS, IT IS PROBABLY STILL LIKELY THAT THERE WOULD BE A PERIOD OF FROSTY INTER-GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS, IF THE HKG HAD NOT ITSELF TAKEN THE INITIATIVE IN PROPOSING AT LEAST SOME OF THE CHANGES. BUT IF SUCH CHANGES OCCURRED, I IMAGINE THAT THERE IS STILL AN OUTSIDE CHANCE THAT THE CHINESE MIGHT RESTRICT THEMSELVES TO SAYING THAT THE PREPARATORY COMMITTEE WOULD REVIEW THE LEGCO ARRANGEMENTS IN 1996. IF ONLY ONE OF THE TWO CONTENTIOUS ELEMENTS IS AMENDED IN LEGCO THEIR REACTION WOULD NO DOUBT BE STRONGER.
7. I STILL BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER A MESSAGE TO THE CHINESE BEFORE THE PROPOSALS ARE PUT TO LEGCO WHICH WOULD, INTER ALIA, SPELL OUT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS (IE. NO FINAL VOTE IN FEBRUARY) AND TELL THEM THAT WE WILL BE PUBLISHING ALL OTHER PROPOSALS MADE. WE ARE ALREADY PUTTING ACROSS THE POINT THAT WE WILL ABIDE BY LEGCO'S DECISION, WHATEVER THE AMENDMENTS IT MAY MAKE TO THE PROPOSALS WE PUT TO IT.
8. SEE MIFT ON TODAY'S EXCO DISCUSSION.
PATTEN
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THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION 3 (4) OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1958
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