TNAG-1173-FCO40-1465-Future-of-Hong-Kong-special-study-by-FCO-for-the-Prime-Minis-1982 — Page 142

HONG KONG STUDY

ANNEX E

CONSULTATION ON HONG KONG

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FM HONG KONG 17104OZ AUG 82

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 881 OF 17 AUGUST

INFO PRIORITY PEKING (PERSONAL FOR CHARGE D'AFFAIRES)

CONSULTATION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG

HMG HAVE ALREADY STATED PUBLICLY THAT THE VIEWS AND WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN DECISIONS ON THEIR FUTURE AND THIS ECHOES A DEMAND FOR SUCH CONSULTATION HERE. WE HAVE BEEN GIVING THOUGHT TO THE METHODS BY WHICH THESE VIEWS

COULD BE ASCERTAINED.

2. THE FIRST AND MOST READILY ACCESSIBLE SOURCE IS TO BE FOUND IN THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS (UMELCO). THEY COVER A WIDE RANGE OF SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS. THEY CAN THEREFORE REPRESENT, COLLECTIVELY AND RESPONSIBLY, AN EQUALLY WIDE RANGE OF HONG KONG OPINION. THIS SOURCE CAN BE SUPPLEMENTED BY THE REGULAR CONTACT WHICH TAKES PLACE BETWEEN SENIOR OFFICIALS IN THE GOVERNMENT AND INFLUENTIAL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

3. A SECOND SOURCE CAN BE FOUND IN SURVEYS OF OPINION BY INDEPENDENT BODIES, SUCH AS THE REFORM CLUB, THE BAPTIST COLLEGE, AND THE OBSERVERS''. ALTHOUGH NOT INFLUENTIAL IN THEMSELVES THEY HAVE CONDUCTED SURVEYS WHICH ADD USEFULLY TO THE PICTURE. THE ''OBSERVERS' SURVEY IN PARTICULAR WAS COMMISSIONED FROM AN INDEPENDENT MARKET RESEARCH ORGANISATION.

4. A THIRD SOURCE IS THE EXTENSIVE COMMENT ON THE ISSUE WHICH HAS APPEARED IN THE MEDIA TELEVISION, RADIO PHONE-IN PROGRAMMES, NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES.

5. A SURVEY OF OPINION DERIVED FROM THESE SOURCES WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PRIME MINISTER BEFORE SHE LEAVES FOR PEKING. IN PARTICULAR A REPRESENTATIVE DELEGATION OF UNOFFICIALS WILL BE CALLING ON HER

EARLY IN SEPTEMBER.

CONSULTATION AFTER THE PEKING VISIT

6. FULLOWING THE VISIT WE SHALL NEED TO DEVELOP THE CONSULTATIVE PROCESS FURTHER. WE CAN CONTINUE TO DRAW ON THE SOURCES REFERRED TO ABOVE, PARTICULARLY UMELCO, BUT THE PROCESS COULD IF NECESSARY ALSO BE EXTENDED AT TWO LEVELS.

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