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HONG KONG:
ISSUES AHEAD
1. In preparation for the Governor's discussions in London, this note sets out the main issues we face in Hong Kong policy as a result of the impasse with China.
What are we seeking to Achieve?
2.
Before considering the tactical questions, it may be useful to recap on our strategic objectives. These can be
summarised as:
Running Hong Kong effectively up to July 1997.
Nurturing a self-confident LegCo, capable of standing up for the interests of Hong Kong people beyond 1997, on the basis of fair and open elections acceptable to
the people of Hong Kong and defensible in Parliament.
Securing as much continuity as possible in the Government, Legislature and Judiciary so as to
minimise disruption in 1997 and the scope for Chinese
interference then and later.
Promoting British commercial interests.
3. One effect of the Governor's electoral proposals has been to flush out the underlying Chinese approach to political development in Hong Kong, and to highlight the wide differences between their and our interpretations of the
general formulations on this subject in the Joint Declaration
and the Basic Law. It is now clearer that we cannot expect to achieve fully all the above objectives. Some of the trade-offs which lie behind the day to day judgements
include:
HongKongissuesahead/BRIEFS/NJH
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