SECRET
037741
MDHIAN 2721
Redacted Under FOI Exemption Sec 27(1)
7.
PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN HONG KONG WOULD NO DOUBT NEED TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AND WAYS FOUND TO MAKE THE CHANGES ACCEPTABLE (PARA 8 OF TUR). AS THE GOVERNOR RECOGNISES (PARA 5 OF TUR) THE CHINA DIMENSION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. TIME AND AGAIN THE CHINESE HAVE EMPHASISED THAT THE LESS POLITICAL CHANGE IN HONG KONG DURING THE REST OF THE TRANSITION PERIOD THE BETTER BECAUSE THIS WOULD GUARANTEE A SMOOTH TRANSFER IN 1997 AND THE MAINTENANCE OF HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY AND STABILITY.
8. IN
PRESENTING THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CHINESE WE COULD ARGUE VIGOROUSLY THAT THE SYSTEM OF EXECUTIVE-LED GOVERNMENT WOULD THEREBY BE STRENGTHENED AND THAT THE QUESTION OF EXCO MEMBERSHIP BY MARTIN LEE AND HIS COLLEAGUES WOULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED DEFINITIVELY. HOWEVER WE THINK IT CLEAR THAT THE IMMEDIATE CHINESE RESPONSE TO THE PACKAGE OF PROPOSED CHANGES WOULD BE THAT THEY REPRESENT A FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE TO HONG KONG'S POLITICAL SYSTEM: THAT THIS IS CONTRARY TO THE JD AND NOT CONDUCIVE TO A SMOOTH TRANSITION UP TO 1997, SMOOTH TRANSFER OF POWER IN 1997 OR HONG KONG'S LONG-TERM PROSPERITY AND STABILITY: THAT THERE SHOULD THEREFORE BE FULL CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE SIDE ON THIS
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