TNAG-1283-FCO40-1635-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 19

SECRET

DESBKY 220930 (FCO)

DESKBY 22080OZ (HONG KONG)

SECRET

FROM PEKING 22074OZ FEB 84

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

HKK.

011/3

23 FEB 1984

TELEGRAM NUMBER 302 OF 22/2/84

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: WORKING PAPER ON CONSTITUTIONAL

ARRANGEMENTS AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES.

1. THE PHRASE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT'' IS EVIDENTLY CONFUSING THE CHINESE IN OUR PAPERS ON THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND IN THE TITLE OF THE ABOVE PAPER. THE CONFUSION APPARENTLY DERIVES FROM THE SIMILARITY OF THE TERM CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO THE TERM THEY USE TO DESCRIBED THE GOVERNMENT IN PEKING, WHICH IS ''CENTRAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT''. SINCE IN ANY CASE

1

OUR PAPER ON CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES IN FACT DEALS WITH BOTH CENTRAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES IN HONG KONG, WE PROPOSE TO OMIT THE WORD CENTRAL FROM THE TITLE. THE TERM DOES NOT

APPEAR ELSEWHERE IN THE PAPER.

2. THE GOVERNOR IS IN FULL AGREEMENT WITH THIS. UNLESS YOU OR HONG KONG OBJECT BY 23003DZ, WE SHALL HAND OVER THE PAPER IN AMENDED FOR TO THE CHINESE.

EVANS

82

See (84

See 83

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

ED/FED

ED/PLANNING STAFF

ED/PUSD

D/ED/PUSD (MR FLOWER)

PES.D. (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

SIR W HARDING

MR DONALD

AIR WRIGHT

SIR C TICNELL

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 NEWS D

MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVS

MR COLES 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

SIR P CRADOCK RX KĪ95

BIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET

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