TNAG-1283-FCO40-1635-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 23

owell

Mr Powell

SECRET

Reference HICK 01113

SFCEVOD A REGUSTRY

22 FEB 1984

PA

75) A

76

8

C

WORKING PAPER ON CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS DRAFT SPEAKING BRIEF FOR THE DELEGATION AT THE TENTH ROUND

1. You asked me to look at our telno 305 and Hong Kong's reply contained in telno 455.

2. Both these telegrams contain amendments to Hong Kong telno 433 in which the Governor gave a draft brief for further discussion of the working paper on Constitutional Arrangements during the tenth round (ie 8/9 Marcher thereabouts.

3. We seem to agree on most points. We had indicated that we were not happy with 2(d) (Hong Kong telno 439) and the Governor has now suggested that this should be dekted.. However there is one area of disagreement. This is over paragraph 4(a) of the draft brief. The Governor's original

version read:

"It is intended that the source of membership of all the principal organs of Government should be in Hong Kong

We sugges a redraft of:

4.

"It is intended that the source of membership of all the Council and Boards should be in Hong Kong ...

The Governor has informed us (Hong Kong telno 455) that he does not like this redraft and wishes to stick to his own wording because he feels that:

و

"we should not say anything to the Chinese which would exclude the possibility that the Governor, though formally appointed in London would be produced by an electoral process".

The Governor has presumed that we will accept this and has almost presented us with a fait accompli by saying that he now proposes to circulate this amended version to EXCO. He makes no reference to waiting for our agreement. Therefore if we wish to prevent him doing this we shall have to act quickly.

5.

If we cannot agree to this perhaps we could go for some sort of a compromise eg:

6.

"It is intended that the main source of membership of all principle organs of Government should be in Hong Kong

I think whatever we say might be acceptable if we stress that this is an intention (ie it is intended that and not a commitment

CODE 18-77

20 February 1984

SECRET

Jone Ann.

J A Sarginson (Miss) Hong Kong Department

.)

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