GRS 530
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FUTURE EGRET
DESKBY 21010OZ **
FM FCO 2017OOZ DEC 83
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HKK 011/3
TOP COPY
; TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
No
Пи
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1356 OF 20 DECEMBER
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING (PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR) PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM CLIFT
see
FUTURE EGRET: CONSTITUTIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL DEVELOPMENT IN
HONG KONG AND THE TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY
1. WE ARE CONSIDERING URGENTLY THE DRAFT PAPER IN YOUR TELNO
1973. I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE VERY CLOSE INTEREST
37 WHICH MINISTERS, INCLUDING THE SECRETARY OF STATE, ARE TAKING
421
IN THIS SUBJECT, AND THE LINES ON WHICH THEY ARE AT PRESENT THINKING.
2. THE SECRETARY OF STATE, WHO HAS SEEN THE EARLIER TELEGRAMS BUT NOT YET YOUR TELNO 1991, ATTACHES CONSIDERABLE IMPORTANCE TO THE LINKAGE OF A TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES. HE HAS COMMENTED THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT MOTIVATIONS BEHIND THE DRIVE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
(A) GROWING PUBLIC DEMAND SEMI COLON
(B) THE NEED TO CREATE DEMOCRATIC ROAD BLOCKS AGAINST CHINESE INTERFERENCE SEMI COLON
(C) THE NEED TO PROVIDE A TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY IN HONG KONG. HE SEES THESE AS PART OF THE SAME PROCESS, ALTHOUGH HAVING DIFFERENT TIME SCALES, WITH (C) THE MOST URGENT.
3. AGAIN WITHOUT HAVING SEEN YOUR MOST RECENT ARGUMENTS, THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS EXPRESSED INITIAL INTEREST IN THE VIEW THAT WE SHOULD AIM EARLIER AT DIRECT ELECTIONS FOR THE POST OF GOVERNOR.
4. WE ARE SUBMITTING URGENTLY TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ON THIS TAKING ACCOUNT OF YOUR VIEWS AND THOSE OF THE AMBASSADOR. I THINK THAT IT MAY WELL BE NECESSARY TO INCLUDE IN THE DRAFT PAPER A COMMENTARY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACCEPTABILITY AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. ALTHOUGH A QUOTE ONE-OFF UNQUOTE OPERATION, THE FORMER IS LIKELY TO BE SEEN AS HAVING AN IMPORTANT BEARING ON THE WAY IN WHICH GOVERNMENT SYTRUCTURES ARE LIKELY TO DEVELOP. WE MAY BE ASKED WHETHER THE ELECTORAL PROCESS, EG FOR THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND REGIONAL COUNCILS, CAN BE SPEEDED UP IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE AN ACCEPTABILITY TEST.
THAT IS WHY WE HAVE INCLUDED A DIRECT REFERENCE TO THIS QUESTION IN PARAGRAPH 5 OF OUR PROPOSED REDRAFT OF THE SECTION ON ACCEPTABILITY FOR THE MAIN POLICY REVIEW.
5. I HAVE DISCUSSED WITH THIS WITH THE PRIVATE OFFICE. IT IS CLEAR THAT IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES IT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY NOT BE POSSIBLE . TO REACH AGREEMENT ON A DISCUSSION PAPER ON CONSTITUTIONAL AND
GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT IN TIME FOR YOU TO PUT IT TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 3 JANUARY. WE APPRECIATE
SECRET
66.
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