TNAG-1283-FCO40-1635-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 59

DD 14010OZ HONG KONG

GRS 236

SECRET

DESKBY 140100Z

FM FCO 1317352 FEBRUARY 84

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

SECRET

19834 1

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No

Au

KES

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TELEGRAM NUMBER 269 OF 13 FEBRUARY

AND TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

HONG KONG TELNO 369: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: WORKING PAPER ON

CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT STRUCTURES.

1.

WE AMENDED PARAGRAPH 4 OF THE PAPER IN RESPONSE TO

PARAGRAPH 1(B) OF PEKING TELNO 199,

HOWEVER SUBJECT TO PEKING'S VIEWS, WE HAVE NO

OBJECTION TO SPECIFYING THE THREE OFFICIALS. WE ALSO FEEL ON

REFLECTION THAT THE PARAGRAPH IS UNDULY REPETITIVE AND COULD BE

USEFULLY SHORTENED ON THE FOLLOWING LINES:

'THE GOVERNMENT OF THE HONG KONG SAR WOULD BE COMPOSED OF LOCAL

INHABITANTS. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICIAL OF THE SAR AND OTHER

CHIEF OFFICIALS (IE THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE FINANCIAL

SECRETARY AND THE ATTORNEYGENERAL) WOULD BE NOMINATED ON THE

BASIS OF ELECTIONS OR CONSULTATIONS HELD LOCALLY. THE PERSONS

NOMINATED WOULD BE APPOINTED BY THE CENTRAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT.

OTHER OFFICIALS WOULD BE APPOINTED BY THE SAR GOVERNMENT.'

AS THIS AFFECTS THE AMENDMENT SUGGESTED BY THE PRIME MINISTER, WE

ARE CLEARING IT WITH NO. 10.

2. WE ARE CONTENT WITH THE AMENDMENT PROPOSED IN PARAGRAPH

3(1) OF TUR. AS FOR PARAGRAPH 3(2), WE FEEL THAT THE POINTS IN

PARAGRAPH 18 OF THE WORKING PAPER ARE IMPORTANT. EVEN IF THEY

ARE OMITTED FROM THE PAPER (AND WE AWAIT EXCO'S ADVICE ON THIS)

WE SHOULD COVER THEM SOMEHOW, PERHAPS AS AN ANNEX TO THE PUBLIC

SERVICE PAPER OR WHEN INTRODUCING IT.

Redacted under

FOI exemption 27(1)

HOWE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

ED/HND

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/ME LUCE

PS/POS

SIR J BULLARD

SIR W HARDING

KR DONALD

KIR FRIGENT

SIR C TICKELL

SECRET

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 OFFIC

MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE

MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR P CRADOCK RM K195.

BIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET