CONFIDENTIAL
HAMAS 012/2
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1459
OF 291015Z MAY 92
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
ميم
23
047637 MDHIAN 5802
TOP COPY Q DIST?
il
MIPT: POLICY ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: LINE TO TAKE DURING MY VISIT TO PEKING.
1.
IN ANYTHING I SAY TO THE CHINESE IN PEKING, I CLEARLY CANNOT PRE-EMPT ANY DECISION WHICH HMG OR MY SUCCESSOR WILL TAKE, EITHER ON THE MEMBERSHIP OF EXCO OR ON THE 1995 ELECTIONS. BUT I BELIEVE THAT I MUST TRY TO ASSUAGE CHINESE CONCERNS IF WE ARE TO AVOID:
(A)
(B)
PUTTING THE AIRPORT PROJECTS IN REAL JEOPARDY, AND
A GROWING SENSE OF CHINESE ALARM WHICH RISKS CREATING A DIFFICULT SITUATION FOR MR. PATTEN FROM THE MOMENT OF
HIS ARRIVAL.
TO HAVE AN IMPACT, I WILL NEED TO SPEAK WITH THE FULL
AUTHORITY OF HMG. OTHERWISE, ANYTHING I SAY WILL BE DISCOUNTED AS THE PERSONAL REMARKS OF AN OUTGOING GOVERNOR.
2 =
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE ELEMENTS THAT I SHOULD LIKE TO DRAW ON, STATING THAT THEY REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND THE FOREIGN SECRETARY:
(A) THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY'S ELECTION VICTORY ENSURES
CONTINUITY OF BRITISH POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG.
(B) THERE ARE NO PLANS TO CHANGE THE ROLE OR FUNCTIONS OF EXCO. IT REMAINS OF KEY IMPORTANCE THAT IT SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE AN EFFECTIVE DECISION-TAKING BODY.
(C) THE FOREIGN SECRETARY HAS MADE CLEAR THAT HMG WOULD LIKE TO SEE STEADY PROGRESS TOWARDS A GREATER DEGREE OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IN HONG KONG, BUT THAT THIS PROGRESS SHOULD BE SUSTAINED WITHOUT INTERRUPTION AFTER CHINA RESUMES THE EXERCISE OF SOVEREIGNTY IN 1997.
(D) AS THE FOREIGN SECRETARY SAID BACK IN 1990, HMG INTEND
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