SECRET FUTURE EGRET
ENTER
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DD 12010OZ PEKING
GRS 447
SECRET
FUTURE EGRET
DESKBY 120100Z
FM FCO 111440Z JUNE 84
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELEGRAM NUMBER 601 OF 11 JUNE
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
FOR GOVERNOR AND AMBASSADOR FROM CLIFT
YOUR TELNO 1551: FUTURE EGRET:
HKK RECEIVED
No
ISTONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE
01113
REGISTRY 13 JUN 1984
K=3
THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS NOW SEEN THE DRAFT GREEN PAPER.
HE HAS RESERVATIONS ON THE PROPOSALS FOR THE SELECTION OF THE
GOVERNOR. HE HAS FOCUSSED ON THE FOLLOWING MAIN POINTS:
(A)
(B)
(C)
2.
HMG WOULD AFTER 1991/2 RETAIN RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG
WITHOUT ANY POWER THERE. THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S POWER TO
DIRECT THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE OF LITTLE EFFECTIVE USE IF THE
GOVERNOR CANNOT OVER-RULE EXCO.
SUCH INDICATIONS AS WE HAVE HAD SUGGEST THAT THE CHINESE
WOULD PREFER THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE TO BE SELECTED RATHER THAN
ELECTED AFTER 1997. THEY MAY REACT AGAINST THE PUBLICATION
OF THESE PROPOSALS, COMING AS THEY DO IN THE MIDST OF
NEGOTIATIONS. THEY MAY ALSO ACCUSE HMG OF WITHDRAWING FROM
DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY IN HONG KONG AND AND OF TRYING TO SET
UP A QUASI-INDEPENDENT HONG KONG. THE EFFECT ON THE TALKS
COULD BE SUBSTANTIAL.
THE PROPOSAL TO APPOINT A LOCALLY ELECTED CHINESE GOVERNOR
IN 1992 IS LIKELY TO AROUSE INTENSE INTEREST IN HONG KONG.
IT MAY BE A CONSIDERABLE SHOCK. SOME WILL SEE THESE
PROPOSALS AS TANTAMOUNT TO WITHDRAWAL OF BRITISH
ADMINISTRATION PRIOR TO 1997.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE WISHES TO DISCUSS THE DRAFT GREEN
PAPER AT AN OFFICE MEETING BEFORE CIRCULATING IT TO COLLEAGUES. THE
MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON 13 JUNE.
NO NEW DATE FOR
DISCUSSION BY MINISTERS HAS YET BEEN SET, BUT IT
1
SECRET FUTURE EGRET
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