TNAG-1283-FCO40-1635-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 25

GRS245 SECRET

FM HONG KONG 200745Z FEB 84

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

SECRET

TELEGRAM NUMBER 455 OF 20 FEBRUARY 1984

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

YOUR TELNO 305: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: WORKING PAPER ON) CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS.

1. I HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON THE POINTS IN TUR:-

A) YOUR PARA 1(A)

HKK

RECELA

70

01113

2 OFIBICA

(1) WE SHOULD CERTAINLY NOT SAY ANYTHING TO THE CHINESE WHICH WOULD EXCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE GOVERNOR, THOUGH FORMALLY (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) APPOINTED IN LONDON WOULD BE PRODUCED BY AN ELECT- ORAL PROCESS (PARA 17 OF MY TELNO 1973 (OF 1983)) BEFORE 1997. I SHOULD THEREFORE NOT WISH TO SUBSTITUTE QUOTE COUNCILS AND BOARDS UNQUOTE FOR QUOTE PRINCIPAL ORGANS OF GOVERNMENT UNQUOTE. THE LATTER PHRASE IS SUFFICIENTLY VAGUE TO LEAVE OPEN THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE GOVERNOR MIGHT BE ELECTED WITHOUT DIRECTLY STATING IT.

(11) I HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THE ADDITION OF THE WORD QUOTE EVENTUALLY UNQUOTE AFTER QUOTE ALSO UNQUOTE IN PARA 1.4(A). BUT THE SENTENCE AS DRAFTED DOES NOT SUGGEST THAT THE SELECTION OF MEMBERS OF EXCO AND LEGCO IS NOW CONDUCTED ENTIRELY IN HONG KONG.

B) YOUR PARA 1 (B)

1 AM CONTENT TO OMIT POINT (D) OF THE POINTS TO BE MADE IN INFORMAL DISCUSSION. THE REASON FOR INCLUDING IT WAS SIMPLY TO INDICATE TO THE CHINESE THAT IN REFERRING TO AN ELECTORAL PROCESS WE WERE NOT ONLY THINKING IN TERMS OF DIRECT POPULAR ELECTIONS. AND WE SHALL HAVE TO CONSIDER IN ANY CASE WHAT WE SAY ON THIS WHEN WE REACH ITEM 2. (PARA 7 OF PEKING TELNO. 262).

2. I PROPOSE NOW TO CIRCULATE THE AMENDED VERSION TO EXCO. YOU DE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

каз See 81

LIMITED

HD/HKD

ED/FED

ED/PLANNING STAFF

ED/PUSD

D/ED/PUSD (MR FLOWER)

RES.B. (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR

PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

SIR W HARDING

KR DONALD

KR WRIGHT

SIR C TICKELL

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 RM K195

SECRET BIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET