TNAG-1284-FCO40-1636-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 28

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Redacted under FOI Exemption S 27(1)

HONG KONG: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: ROLE OF THE GOVERNOR IN THE

1990'S

MAJOR CONSIDERATIONS

We have proposed to the Chinese that in 1997 the Chief

Executive and his Deputy should be elected from among local

1.

inhabitants in accordance with procedures approved by the

legislative authorities of Hong Kong (China) and formally appointed

by the Central People's Government.

2.

It is clearly in the interests of the people of Hong Kong that

appointments should be on the basis of elections rather than

consultations. This would reduce, though not eliminate, the

potential for Chinese interference in the system. We should

therefore do what we can to create a situation whereby the Chinese

would have as little excuse as possible not to hold elections, and

where autonomous institutions at all levels would be in place before

and would continue after 1997.

3.

Another consideration is that the administration of Hong Kong

will remain HMG's responsibility up to 1997. This means not only

that we must preserve our symbolic constitutional role in such ways as the Governor continuing to be appointed by the Crown, but also

that we must retain the power to direct events in the territory if this should be necessary. Moreover, the Chinese will expect us to hand Hong Kong over to them in 1997 as a going concern. They will

strongly oppose any arrangements that seem to them to suggest any

attempt by HMG to throw off their responsibilities and establish a

quasi-independent Hong Kong.

4.

It is also important to note that the acceptability of any

proposals for the changes in the role or method of appointment of the Governor will be judged in the present context, not that of the

1990's. However logical the proposals may seem for introduction

only a few years before 1997, they must also command confidence at

this unusually sensitive time.

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/ALTERNATIVE