TNAG-1220-FCO40-1530-Democratic-representation-and-reform-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 23

SECRET

9116

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DD 24010OZ HONG KONG

GRS 552

SECRET

DESKBY 24010OZ HONG KONG AND PEKING

FM FCO 23163OZ DEC 83

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1389 OF 23 DECEMBER

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING DESKBY 240100Z

HKK 011 3.

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YOUR TELNO 1973: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: CONSTITUTIONAL AND (37

GOVERNMENTAL DEVELOPMENT

1.

CLEARLY.

I AM GRATEFUL FOR THIS PAPER, WHICH SETS OUT YOUR IDEAS

I HAVE CONSIDERED IT VERY CAREFULLY IN THE LIGHT BOTH OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR MINISTERS' DISCUSSIONS WITH EXCO IN

JANUARY AND OF THE LONGER TERM CONSIDERATIONS OF THE FUTURE

INCLUDING OUR STRATEGY IN THE NEGOTIATIONS.

2.

*

I FIND MANY OF THE ARGUMENTS IN YOUR PAPER COMPELLING AND PARTICULARLY THE LOGIC OF BUILDING ON HONG KONG'S EXISTING

INSTITUTIONS AND MAINTAINING THE MAXIMUM CONTINUITY. AT THE SAME TIME, THE MATTER IS COMPLEX AND REQUIRES VERY CAREFUL AND

DELIBERATE STUDY. THE PRIME MINISTER AND OTHER COLLEAGUES WILL CERTAINLY WANT TO THINK VERY CAREFULLY ABOUT IT AND TO CONSIDER A

RANGE OF OPTIONS.

3.

FOR THAT PURPOSE IT WILL OF COURSE BE ESSENTIAL FOR

MINISTERS TO HAVE AS FULL A PICTURE AS POSSIBLE OF EXCO'S VIEWS.

I AGREE THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU WERE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION

WITH EXCO IN EARLY JANUARY AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS CAN ONLY BE EFFECTIVELY DONE ON THE BASIS OF A DOCUMENT. I SHOULD THEREFORE

HAVE NO OBJECTION TO YOUR PUTTING A PAPER TO EXCO BUT I SHOULD BE

GRATEFUL IF IT COULD BE COUCHED RATHER LESS IN TERMS OF

PROPOSALS FOR A SPECIFIC COURSE OF ACTION AND MORE IN THE FORM OF A SHORTER DISCUSSION DOCUMENT WHICH WOULD POSE THE PROBLEM,

DESCRIBE OUR OBJECTIVES AND SEEK MEMBERS' VIEWS ON POSSIBLE COURSES OF ACTION, INCLUDING OF COURSE THE IDEAS WHICH YOU HAVE

OUTLINED.

4.

YOU MAY THINK IT HELPFUL, PERHAPS IN AN INTRODUCTORY SECTION

TO POINT BOTH TO PRESSURES FOR CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT (PARA

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