SECRET
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 01120OZ FCO
TELNO 2427
OF 01110OZ OCTOBER 92
INFO DESKBY 02010OZ PEKING
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
p.a. Constit Deyor. (Ching angle)
076613
TOP COPYDHIAN71423
Q DIST?
this als
38
PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD, FROM GOVERNOR.
PEKING PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR.
UKREP JLG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY.
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
1. IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT THE AMBASSADOR WILL BE SUMMONED SHORTLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE CHINESE DO NOT LIKE MY CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS AND THAT I SHOULD NOT SPELL THEM OUT IN MY LEGCO ADDRESS.
2. IF SO, I HOPE THAT THREE POINTS CAN BE MADE:
(A) THE CHINESE HAVE ASKED THAT MARTIN LEE SHOULD NOT BE PUT ON EXCO AND HAVE SAID THAT THEY CANNOT AGREE TO MORE DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN LEGCO. BUT IT IS POLITICALLY QUITE UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT THAT, IN ADDITION, I SHOULD REFUSE IN ANY OTHER WAY TO SATISFY THE WISHES OF MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG, AS CONSISTENTLY EXPRESSED IN POLLS, TO SEE REPRESENTATIVE INSTITUTIONS STEADILY DEVELOPED. ALL THAT I WILL PROPOSE ON THE 1995 ELECTIONS IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE BASIC LAW.
(B) THERE ARE TWO WAYS OF DEALING WITH LIBERAL POLITICIANS. ONE IS TO AVOID CONFRONTING THEM HEAD ON AND TO MARGINALISE THEM. THE OTHER IS TO ATTACK THEM AND TURN THEM INTO MARTYRS. I AM IN NO DOUBT THAT THE FIRST METHOD BRINGS GREATER POLITICAL STABILITY THAN THE SECOND.
(C) IN OUR DISCUSSIONS ON THE AIRPORT, THE CHINESE HAVE CONSISTENTLY TOLD US TO PUBLICISE OUR PROPOSALS AND LISTEN TO THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. WE HAVE DONE SO. IT WOULD BE QUITE INCONSISTENT TO EXPECT ME TO DO OTHERWISE ON CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES.
PATTEN
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