M
ستانه
Quests, HKD
The miniter in
content with the letter
as drafted.
6.J. Arrey 157.
Mr Ham
Muniti
PS/Mr Goodfad CR4 25%
Miyauter
SECRET
FROM:
MKBOLA
RECI
27 JAN 1993
PF Ricketts
Hong Kong Department
(39
зн
DATE:
22 January
CC:
Sir J Coles
Mr Davies, FED
Ms Brooks, Legal Advisers Mr Wye, RAD
Ms Saunders
A
B
HONG KONG: CONSTITUIONAL DEVELOPMENT
1.
ExCo discussed on 15 January (Hong Kong telno 73) possible amendments to the Governor's proposal on the composition of the Election Committee. This flowed from an earlier ExCo discussion in which several of the unofficial members advocated changes in this area before the Governor's proposals went to LegCo.
2.
The ExCo discussion took place on the basis of a memorandum setting out 4 possible alternative compositions. None are as clear or simple as the Governor's original proposal. And it is clear from the ExCo discussion that the Governor himself is far from persuaded that he should make any change in this area.
3.
ExCo meets again on 2 February to resume discussion. I would not recommend that Ministers intervene to influence the discussion at this stage. The Governor's, and HMG's, position is reflected in his proposals. It is now up to the Governor and ExCo to weigh up whether the benefits of a change in terms of improving the prospects of Chinese acquiescence outweigh the risks in terms of losing liberal support in LegCo. If ExCo do advise the Governor to make a change on the Election Committee, and the Governor accepts that advice, the Secretary of State would at that point need to take a view and consult OPD (K).
4.
In the meantime, we have given some thought to the various alternative proposals in the ExCo paper. I believe that the only possible justification for running the political risks of a significant change in the Governor's proposals at this stage would be to make them more palatable to the Chinese. That
sub.condevels22
SECRET