TNAG-1283-FCO40-1635-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 157

ADVANCE COPY

IMMEDIATE

Mis Sargina

FUTURE OF ZONG ZONG ADVANCE COFRES

To see

↓

SECRET

FM PEKING 27103OZ JAN 64

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 161 OF 27TH JAN 84

COFF FO:

ME OCLES, To. 10 CCMING SO

MC Roberta

News

>

K195

Sir P. Cradock

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INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

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I think they are

YOUR TELNOS 93 AND 94 TO HONG KONG: FUTURE OF HONG KONG:

KING WORSTOCRAPER ON CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES.

i. HE SEE SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE DRAFT. IN PARTICULAR PARAGRAPH 6 AS DRAFTED COMES CLOSE TO CHALLENGING THE PREMISE THAT SOVEREIGNTY AND THE RIGHT OF ADMINISTRATION WOULD REVERT TO CHINA. IT IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT NOT TO OVERRID ON THIS PAPER.

2. I SHOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE THE ANNEX ON FLAGS DROPPED FROM THIS PAPER. IT IS AN ISSIE OF GREAT SENSITIVITY BUT LITTLE INTRINSIC IMPORTANCE. THE ANNEX AS DRAFTED APPEARS TO SUGGEST THAT THE CHINESE FLAG WOULD, IN PRACTICE, DE FLOWN ONLY IN THE SAME WAY AS THE FLAGS OF OTHER COUNTRIES.

I QUESTION WHETHER THIS IS WISE OR NECESSARY. IF HONG KONG, HOWEVER AUTONOMOUS, IS TO BE PART OF CHINA, IT IS NOT LOGICAL TO SEEK TO LIMIT THE FLYING OF THE CHINESE FLAG THERE. THE DIST WE CAN HOPE FOR IS PERHAPS THAT THE CHINESE AND THE HONG KONG FLAGS WOULD FLY TOGETHER ON HOSA KONG GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. HOWEVER, THIS ISSUE IS SO EMOTIVE THAT WE STRONGLY ADVISE THAT IT SHOULD BE LEFT FOR LATER DISCUSSION.