TNAG-1220-FCO40-1530-Democratic-representation-and-reform-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 11

SECRET

9772

1

DD 310100Z HONG KONG

GRS 266

HICK

011/3

RECEIVEL

3-JAN 1934

SECRET

DESKBY 310100Z

D:

INDLA

FM F C O 301300Z DEC 83

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

No

Qu

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1403 OF 30 DECEMBER

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

FUTURE OF HONG KONG:

FOR GOVERNOR FROM CLIFT: FCO TELNO 1401: PAPER ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE. 1. THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS NOW SEEN THE DRAFT IN YOUR TELNO 2034. HE WOULD BE GRATEFUL IF PARAS 8 AND 9 COULD BE PRESENTED IN A FORM WHICH MADE EVEN CLEARER THAT NO ADVANCE ASSUMPTIONS WERE BEING MADE ABOUT THE FUTURE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT. WE SUGGEST THE

FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS:

(A) PARA 8. REWORD FIRST TWO SENTENCES: OPEN QUOTES IN DECIDING THE. FUTURE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE, CAREFUL CONSIDERATION WOULD NEED TO BE GIVEN TO THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE GOVERNOR OR CHIEF EXECUTIVE WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. UNDER MOST LIKELY SYSTEMS HE WOULD STILL CHAIR THE COUNCIL, BUT, AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE GOVERNMENT, HE WOULD BE BOUND TO ACCEPT AND IMPLEMENT THE COUNCIL'S DECISIONS, UNLESS THERE WERE AREAS RESERVED FOR HIS PERSONAL DECISION BY LAW. CLOSE QUOTES.

(B) PARA 9. REWORD: OPEN QUOTES WHICHEVER METHOD OR COMBINATION OF METHODS WERE CHOSEN, ANY NEW SYSTEM SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED DURING THE COURSE OF THE NEXT DECADE. THIS WOULD ENSURE THAT CHANGES WERE BROUGHT ABOUT IN GOOD TIME BEFORE 1997, ALTHOUGH THE LINK OF THE AUTHORITY WITH THE UK COULD REMAIN UNBROKEN UNTIL THAT DATE. URBAN COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS IN 1985 AND 1986 COULD BE A FIRST STEP IN WIDENING THE ROLE OF ELECTIONS IN THE TERRITORY. MEASURES TO EXTEND THE ELECTIVE PROCESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNORSHIP COULD FOLLOW. CLOSE QUOTES.

HOWE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

D/HD/PUSD (MR FLOWER)

RES.D. (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

MR GIFFARD

MR DONALD

MR WRIGHT

SIR C TICKELL

SECRET

COPIES TO:

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS

MR BURROWS

NEWS D

LEGAL ADVS

MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST

SIR A PARSONS NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE

MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE

MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

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