TNAG-1037-FCO40-1287-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1981 — Page 121

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-19-

DSR 11C

Political Adviser/NCNA channel. A recent example was the

proposed new system of partially elective district boards.

But there is no question of consultation or of a Chinese

veto.

If a Chinese representative were given such a right

problems would arise in the fields of law and order (attitude

to Communist and KMT pressure groups; labour and immigration).

Quite apart from questions of intelligence and internal

security, the handling and use of the security forces would

present major problems. The morale and efficiency of the

public service would suffer.

24

24. 17.

The conclusion is that HMG could not accept an

attempt to tack onto the present administrative system any

effective Peking participation in government.

There might

be an understanding that a Chinese representative would have

an interest in certain matters but this should give him no

powers of veto, should not amount to consultation and should

not be made public. Even an understanding of this sort

should not be accepted without firm Chinese concessions on the

17

lines described in paragraph 17 above.

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/THE LONG TERM

Dd 0532000 400 M 5/78 HMSO Bracknell

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