TNAG-1284-FCO40-1636-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 276

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GR 195

SECRET

DESKBY FCO 1210307

FM PEKING 12094OZ APR 84

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

SECRET

TELEGRAM NUMBER 730 OF 12 APRIL

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

FOLLOWING FROM GOVERNOK

HKK

01113

13 APRI94

DEUR ORAZZARS

YOUR TELNO 372: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND STRUCTURE

OF GOVERNMENT

1. AS YOU WILL HAVE SEEN FROM THE REPORTING TELEGRAMS,

THE CHINESE HAVE NOT RAISED THE QUESTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL

DEVELOPMENT DURING THIS ROUND. IF THE SUBJECT COMES UP

DURING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT, I WOULD SEE NO

OBJECTION TO HIM DRAWING ON THE TALKING POINTS IN PARAS 5 AND 6

OF HONG KONG TELNO 932. BUT IN THE LIGHT OF WHAT THE CHINESE

HAVE NOW SAID ON ITEMS 2 AND 3 OF THE AGENDA, I THINK IT WOULD

BE BEST TO SAY NOTHING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF DIRECT ELECTIONS

(PARA 7 OF HONG KONG TUR). THERE IS NO NEED TO DO SO, AND I WOULD SEE STRONG DISADVANTAGE IN GIVING A COMMITMENT TO

(NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) CONSULT THE CHINESE ON ANY ASPECT OF HONG KONG'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS IN THE PERIOD BEFORE 1997 WHEN WE ARE

SO FAR APART ON HOW CONSULTATION DURING THIS PERIOD SHOULD

BE HANDLED, AND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE CHINESE SHOULD BE ALLOWED

TO INFLUENCE POLICY.

2. THE AMBASSADOR AGREES.

EVANS

- FUTURE OF HONG KONG

INLAMED

COPIES TO:

LANNING STAFF

PUSD

D/ED/PUSD

PES E. (R TALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (MR FREELAND).

FS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/ME. LUCE

PS/PUS

SER J BULLARD

SIR W FAEDING · MR WILSON

MR. WRIGENT STER C THCREENPL

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

DXORIQUER

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS

HR BURROWS

MR COLES NO

I ́EWS D ́

LEGAL ADVS

10 DOWNING ST

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE

MR GOODATHIL,

CABINET OFFICE

MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR P CRADOCK RM KIRS

BIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET

SECRET

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