TNAG-1284-FCO40-1636-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 97

SECRET EGRET

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SECTION ON THE GOVERNOR, EG TO THE PRESIDENCY OF LEGCO.

3.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS NOT YET TAKEN A FIRM VIEW ON THE

POSITION OF THE GOVERNORSHIP IN THE 1990'S. BUT HE ACCEPTS THAT

WE SHALL NEED TO REACH A CLEAR POSITION ON OUR SIDE SOON SO THAT

WE HAVE A BASIS FOR DISCUSSION WITH THE CHINESE ON WHICH TO ARGUE

FOR A COMPREHENSIVE DESCRIPTION OF POST 1997 ARRANGEMENTS. THE

KEY QUESTION IS WHETHER THE AIM OF EFFECTIVE AUTONOMY FOR THE

SAR, AND CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG UP TO THEN, CAN BEST BE PROMOTED

BY SETTING UP A COMPLETE STRUCTURE OF AUTONOMOUS AND

REPRESENTATIVE INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING AN ELECTED, NON-BRITISH

GOVERNOR, BEFORE 1997 (AND IF SO HOW IN PRACTICE WE COULD

EXERCISE THE UK'S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DEFENCE

AND INTERNAL SECURITY) SEMI COLON OR WHETHER WE SHOULD DO BETTER

TO RETAIN AN EFFECTIVE AND DEMONSTRABLY BRITISH FOCUS OF

AUTHORITY AT THE TOP, WHILE CONCENTRATING ON LOCALISATION IN EXCO

AND LEGCO.

AT

YOU HAVE SET OUT COGENTLY THE ARGUMENTS FOR THE FIRST

COURSE. THESE CLEARLY HAVE GREAT WEIGHT. THERE IS, I BELIEVE,

NO INCLINATION ON THE PART OF MINISTERS TO DISPUTE THAT WE SHOULD

ARGUE WITH THE CHINESE FOR A CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE SAR AFTER

1997 WHO WOULD BE LOCALLY ELECTED. BUT GIVEN THE STRONG

INDICATIONS FROM THE CHINESE SIDE THAT THEY WOULD EXPECT HIM,

LEAST INTIALLY, TO BE APPOINTED, WE MUST CONSIDER WHETHER AN

ATTEMPT BY US TO ESTABLISH A GENUINELY ELECTED LOCATED GOVERNOR

1997 COULD CREDIBLY BE MAINTAINED AND WHETHER CONFIDENCE WOULD

NOT BE SERIOUSLY WEAKENED BY THE CHINESE OBJECTIONS WHICH WE MUST

ANTICIPATE. WE ALSO HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE RISK FOR

HMG OF RETAINING RESPONSIBILITY WITHOUT DEMONSTRABLE

POWER TO MEET IT, FOR INSTANCE IN A SITUATION OF CIVIL

UNREST WHEN A LOCALLY ELECTED GOVERNOR MIGHT BE POLITICALLY

INHIBITED FROM RECOMMENDING OR TAKING STRONG ACTION.

5.

AS THE AMBASSADOR HAS POINTED OUT (PEKING TELNO 1110),

PEKING WILL HOLD US RESPONSIBLE FOR HONG KONG UNTIL 1997. THEY

WILL EXPECT US TO EXERCISE CONTROL AND TO HAND THE TERRITORY OVER

IN GOOD ORDER. THEY WILL SEEK TO USE THEIR PROPOSALS FOR THE

JOINT GROUP TO REINFORCE THIS. OUR INTEREST IS TO INDUCE THEM TO

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SECRET EGRET