TNAG-1284-FCO40-1636-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 106

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*NOUISTRY 13 JUN 1904

REGISTRY

PAction TukuE 197

Пов

157

See (160)

FM HONG KONG 13050OZ JUN 84

TO IMMEDIATE PEKING

TELEGRAM NUMBER 469 OF 13 JUNE

HKCK

INFO IMMEDIATE FCO

RECEIV

FOR GOVERNOR FROM HADDON-CAVE.

INDUS

FUTURE EGRET

BLUS

15)

FCO TELNO 1551 AND PEKING TELNO 1094:

184

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE.

I THINK YOUR COMMENT AT PARA 7(C) OF YOUR TELNO 1094, NAMELY,

THAT THE ABSENCE OF ANY REFERENCE TO PROPOSALS CONCERNING THE

GOVERNOR WOULD CAUSE LESS OF A STIR HERE THAN THE PUBLICATION

OF THE PROPOSALF AS TO HOW HE SHOULD BE APPOINTED, IS PROBABLY RIGHT. BUT EITHER WAY THERE WILL BE A STIR, THAT IS TO SAY, THE ABSENCE OF ANY PROPOSALS WILL BE A SURPRISE. HOWEVER, WE COULD

RESPOND BY SAYING THAT THE FIRST STEP IS TO ESTABLISH THE NEW

PROCEDURES FOR SELECTING MEMBERS OF THE TWO MAIN ORGANS OF

GOVERNMENT: THAT WE HAVE LEFT OPEN OTHER POSSIBLE FURTHER

DEVELOPMENTS SUCH AS DIRECT ELECTIONS AND A MINISTERIAL SYSTEM:

AND THAT THE QUESTION OF THE GOVERNOR'S POSITION DOES NOT REALLY

ARISE UNTIL LATER.

FCO,

2. SO I AGREE WITH YOU THAT, IF ALTERNATIVE (A) IN PARA. 4 OF T.U.R. IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE, THEN WE SHOULD

GO FOR ALTERNATIVE (C).

3. ON PARA. 10 OF YOUR T.U.R. PEOPLE IN HONG KONG HAVE ALREADY

ABSORBED THE SHOCK OF THE NEWS OF THE WITHDRAWAL OF BRITISH

AUTHORITY IN 1997. THUS THEY REALISE THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL

EVENTUALLY CEASE TO BE SELECTED AND APPOINTED BY THE CROWN AND

WILL HAVE TO BE SELECTED (AS WELL AS APPOINTED) BY SOME OTHER

SYSTEM. IT WILL BE UNDERSTOOD LOCALLY THAT IT WOULD BE HIGHLY

DESIRABLE TO HAVE THIS SYSTEM IN PLACE AND OPERATING (IN THE

SENSE OF THE FIRST INCUMBENT IN OFFICE) BEFORE 1997 SO THAT THE GREAT DIVIDE CAN BE CROSSED SMOOTHLY AND HOPEFULLY, THEREFORE, THAT THE SYSTEM WILL BE ALLOWED TO SURVIVE THEREAFTER.

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