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would also be under sustained pressure from British
business who would be alarmed at missing out on one of the
few major growing markets in the world.
Conclusions: How can we mitigate the Chinese reactions?
12.
There is a point on the scale of electoral measures
below which we cannot go if we are to hold elections which
are open, fair and acceptable to the people of Hong Kong. The precise point will only emerge in the light of the debate in LegCo. But it is almost certainly above anything
acceptable to the Chinese. Whether or not talks take
place, we are almost certain to face the requirement to
constrain Chinese reactions to an outcome they cannot
accept, and to maintain the governability of Hong Kong in
the absence of full cooperation from China. We recommend
the following measures:
give the Chinese side opportunities to influence
the eventual shape of the legislation. Talks
before introduction to LegCo would provide such
an opportunity (although views differ on the
value of this if talks broke down). But once the
debate in LegCo starts (either because talks do
not take place, or because they are broken off),
we should discreetly encourage some members of
LegCo to sound out the Chinese on their own
channels before putting forward amendments.
should then try to arrange a further official
contact with China before enactment.
We
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Keep open our channels to the Chinese. If talks
take place, they will achieve that while they
last. But there will be a need to engage the
HongKongissuesahead/BRIEFS/NJH
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