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MKD again Discussed 13/6
Dr Wilson Minute HRK
Private Secretary!
secretary
RECEIVED
INDEX
SECRET
01113
STRY
1 1 JUN 1984
DY
кез
sub JAK116 kez
140
segres of State,
FROM: R D CLIFT, HKD DATE: 8 June 1984
dc: PS/Mr Luce PS/PUS
Sir P Cradock Mr Orr, FED Planning Staff
HONG KONG: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE
PROBLEM
1.
To seek the Prime Minister's approval of a draft Green Paper entitled "The Further Development of Representative Government in Hong Kong".
RECOMMENDATION
2.
I recommend that the Private Secretary write to No 10 on the lines of the attached draft, enclosing the Green Paper and a commentary for discussion in OD (K) on 13 June.
BACKGROUND
3.
The Secretary of State minuted the Prime Minister on 19 March attaching a draft memorandum containing the Governor's proposals for constitutional development in Hong Kong up to 1997. In his letter of 27 March to Mr Ricketts, Mr Coles conveyed the Prime Minister's agreement to these proposals.
4.
This memorandum was put to the Executive Council on 10 April. The Council was broadly in agreement with the proposals, subject to a few minor amendments that demonstrated their cautious approval to this subject (Hong Kong telno 1001). They advised that the Hong Kong Government should proceed with the drafting of a Green Paper for publication during the
summer.
5.
The Government of Hong Kong has now drawn up the draft Green Paper, taking into account the comments of the Executive Council. Its main proposals are very much on the same lines as those approved by the Prime Minister in March.
The paper will be discussed by the Executive Council on 19 June. Any comments that Ministers have on it will be telegraphed to Hong Kong in time for that meeting.
6. The commentary draws attention to the Governor's position under the proposed arrangements, and raising the question of whether they go too far at this stage, in the light of our own
J
SECRET
/interests
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.