GRS 350
SECRET
SECRET
DESKBY 23110OZ FCO
FM HONG KONG 23100OZ JUL 84
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
TELEGRAM NUMBER 2088 OF 23 JULY
INS
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TOP COPY
HKCK
543
ED IN AV SIRY
2 5 JUL 1934
11
-A
JA
B
YOUR TELNO 1379 AND 1380
FUTURE OF HONG KONG : CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS.
THE GOVERNOR APPROVED THE FOLLOWING TEXT BEFORE HE LEFT FOR
PEKING.
2. THE PREVIOUS TEXT WAS SEEN BY EXCO (MY TELNO 2039). THERE WILL
BE NO OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO DISCUSS THE NEW TEXT WITH THEM BEFORE
I LEAVE FOR PEKING.
3. I WILL RAISE AGAIN DURING THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT THE POINT
IN PARA 6 OF YOUR TUR. AS I POINTED OUT IN MY TELNO 2061 THE QUESTION
OF CONTINUITY IN 1997 IS OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE. NOWHERE ELSE IN
THE TEXTS IS ANY INDICATION GIVEN OF HOW A SMOOTH TRANSITION IS TO BE
ARRANGED. AS SOON AS THE AGREEMENT IS PUBLISHED THERE ARE BOUND TO BE
QUESTIONS ON WHETHER OR NOT THERE WILL BE A NEW GOVERNMENT BROUGHT
INTO OFFICE ON THE FIRST OF JULY 1997 (1.E. IS IT TO BE ALL CHANGE'
ON THAT DATE?). FOR THE REASONS GIVEN IN MY TUR BOTH WE AND THE
CHINESE HAVE A STRONG INTEREST IN AVOIDING SUCH A DISRUPTIVE COURSE.
4. I KNOW OF NO SUPPORT IN THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORKING GROUP
SO FAR FOR THE ARGUMENT THAT THE CHINESE WOULD USE AN OBJECTION TO
ONE PART OF AN ANNEX AS A REASON FOR OBJECTING TO OTHERS. NOR SINCE
WE SHALL BE CONTRIBUTING TO ONE OF THEIR PRIME OBJECTIVES CAN I SEE
WHY IT SHOULD BE COUNTER PRODUCTIVE TO PROPOSE A MEANS OF ENSURING
CONTINUITY TO THEM. BUT IF DR WILSON THINKS IT IS TOO DIFFICULT FOR
THE WORKING GROUP WE COULD RAISE IT EITHER IN PLENARY OR DURING
THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT. THE AMBASSADOR MAY WISH TO COMMENT.
SECRET
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