TNAG-1220-FCO40-1530-Democratic-representation-and-reform-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 59

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DD HONG KONG 140100Z

GRS 685

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DESKBY 140100Z

FM FCO 132042Z DEC 83

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1326 OF 13 DECEMBER

HKK 011/3

RECLAS

STRY

15 DEC 1983

NO M

REPEATED INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING (PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR)

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM DONALD

YOUR TELNO 1714 AND 1925: DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT

STRUCTURE

1.

(34

WE HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING CAREFULLY THE PROPOSALS IN TUR

ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NOT AIRED THE SUBJECT YET WITH MINISTERS. AT

OFFICIAL LEVEL WE SEE THEM AS VERY MUCH ON THE RIGHT LINES.

HAVING DISCUSSED WITH THE PUS HOWEVER, I THINK THAT MINISTERS

WOULD SEE THE ISSUES EVEN MORE DIRECTLY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE

TALKS ON THE FUTURE. I QUITE TAKE THE POINT THAT ONE OF YOUR

MAIN OBJECTIVES IS TO DEVISE A CREDIBLE AUTONOMOUS STRUCTURE

WHICH WOULD HAVE A FAIR CHANCE OF MINIMIZING THE INCENTIVE FOR

CHINA TO INTERFERE. BUT WE WOULD ALSO EXPECT MINISTERS TO LOOK

AT THE QUESTION OF DEMOCRACY' IN TERMS OF THE PROBLEM OF

ESTABLISHING THE ACCEPTABILITY OF ANY PROPOSALS THAT MAY BE

AGREED WITH PEKING. THIS IS PARTICULARLY NECESSARY BECAUSE

AS YOU POINT OUT IN PARA 2 OF SECOND TUR THE CHINESE HAVE BEEN

PLACING SO MUCH PROPAGANDA EMPHASIS ON CONSULTATION

WITH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

2.

WE UNDERSTAND, OF COURSE, THAT THE SORT OF PROPOSALS YOU

HAVE OUTLINED IN YOUR TURS ARE WOULD ONLY COME INTO BEING

GRADUALLY, AND AFTER WE WOULD HOPE TO HAVE GOT ACCEPTANCE OF AN

AGREEMENT BEHIND US. IT WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE PRACTICABLE TO TRY

TO BRING THAT TIMETABLE APPRECIABLY FORWARD. BUT I WONDER IF WE

SHOULD EXAMINE THE QUESTION OF ACCEPTABILITY IN ORDER TO SEE

WHETHER WE COULD DEVISE A CONVINCING MACHINERY WHICH WOULD COMBAT

ANY SELECTIVE CANVASSING THAT THE CHINESE MAY ATTEMPT. ONE WAY

TO DO THIS WOULD BE TO MAKE USE OF THE EXISTING MACHINERY, EG THE

DISTRICT BOARDS, AS A DELIBERATE MEANS OF SOUNDING OPINION.

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