TNAG-1283-FCO40-1635-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 27

HKK

011/3

GR 600

SECRET

SECRET

2 OFEB 1984

FM HONG KONG 17095OZ FEB 84

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 439 OF 17 FEBRUARY

св

1 bar ker

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

see 81

73

MIPT: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS: BRIEF FOR THE DELEGATION.

1. POINTS TO MAKE IN THE NEGOTIATIONS:

(1) MR JI PENGFEI TOLD SIR P. CRADOCK ON 9 DECEMBER THAT THE CHINESE ACCEPTED THAT BRITISH AUTHORITY IN HONG KONG WOULD CONTINUE UNIMPAIRED UP TO 1997.

(2) IT IS IMPOSSIBLE, 13 YEARS IN ADVANCE, TO LAY DOWN THE EXACT STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG WHICH WILL BE IN PLACE ON 1 JULY 1997. BUT IT IS THE INTENTION OF HMG AND THE HK GOVERNMENT TO DEVELOP IT TO MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS AND WISHES OF THE POPULATION IN HONG KONG.

(3) THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT MAY BE ASSURED THAT THE BRITISH SIDE WILL PERFORM THE DUTIES OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG IN A RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE MANNER AND THAT THE STRUCTURE THEY WILL DEVELOP WILL HAVE REGARD TO ANY ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE POST 1997 PERIOD WHICH MAY BE WORKED OUT. THE AIM WILL BE TO HAVE A STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT WHICH IS WELL ADAPTED TO THE NEEDS OF HONG KONG, WHICH IS WELL ESTABLISHED BY 1997 AND WHICH THEREFORE CAN BE LEFT UNALTERED IN 1997.

(4) IT MAY BE HELPFUL TO GIVE AN INDICATION OF THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES WHICH WILL DETERMINE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE IN THE COMING YEARS. THE BRITISH SIDE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE CHINESE SIDE WILL AGREE THAT THESE ARE ENTIRELY CONSISTENT WITH THE PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING OUR PRESENT DISCUSSIONS, AS WELL AS CONFORMING TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG.

(A)

DUR OBJECTIVE IS

T IS INTENDED THAT THE SOURCE OF MEMBERSHIP OF ALL THE PRINCIPAL ORGANS OF GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE IN HONG KONG AND THE PROCESS OF SELECTION WILL ALSO BE CONDUCTED ENTIRELY WITHIN HONG KONG.

eventually

(E) AN ELECTIVE PROCESS WILL BE PROGRESSIVELY INTRODUCED FOR THIS PURPOSE.

(C) THIS WILL BE A GRADUAL PROCESS WITH EACH STEP CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT AND TESTED TO ENSURE THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE OPOPULATION.

2. FOLLOWING POINTS TO BE MADE IN INFORMAL DISCUSSION:

(A) THERE ARE NO (NO) PLANS TO MOVE TO EARLY DIRECT ELECTIONS

TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

SECRET

/(B)

K

See(75) Sex (86