TNAG-1284-FCO40-1636-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 71

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2. WE SHALL, THEREFORE, SEND YOU BY THE END OF THE WEEK A REVISED DRAFT WHICH TAKES ACCOUNT OF EXCO'S VIEWS. GIVEN MY ENGAGEMENTS, I CANNOT MEET YOUR REQUEST FOR FURTHER COMMENTS TO-DAY IN THE LIGHT OF THE EXCO DECISION. BUT IN GENERAL, IN LEAVING OPEN THE QUESTION OF WHEN, AFTER 1991, A GOVERNOR MIGHT BE ELECTED THE NEW DRAFT WILL NOT BRING TO A HEAD THE ISSUE OF A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND HMG IN THE 1990'S. NOR DOES THE NEW FORMULATION INVOLVE ANY PRIOR COMMITMENT ON WHETHER OR NOT THERE WOULD BE CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE BEFORE A FORMAL PROPOSITION WAS MADE. AS YOU KNOW, MY OWN VIEW IS THAT IT WOULD BE INCONSONANT WITH THE CHINESE POSITION FOR THEM TO COME TO ANY SPECIFIC AGREEMENT WITH US NOW ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. TO SAY, THEREFORE, THAT WE WOULD ONLY CONDUCT AN ELECTION WITH THEIR SPECIFIC AGREEMENT WOULD BE TO GIVE THEM A VETO, AND MEANT THAT HONG KONG WOULD NOT BE GIVEN THE OPTION, EVEN UNDER BRITISH

BUT I WILL TELEGRAPH ADMINISTRATION OF CHOOSING ITS OWN MAN, FURTHER COMMENTS TOMORROW.

YOUDE

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SIR W HARDING

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COPIES TO:- SIR P CRADOCK MR BURROWS

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