TNAG-1286-FCO40-16372-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong.-Part-2-of-2-1984 — Page 304

Sir P

Cragen

1717

SECRET

HKK

01113

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

19 JUL 1984

252

VELICE

INDE

PA

(237,

A

7 B C

(251

224) E

F

*

GREEN PAPER ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG: STATEMENT BY GOVERNOR ON 18 JULY

1. Hong Kong telno 1920 contains the text of a draft statement that the Governor proposes to make in the Legislative Council on 18 July. Subsequent exchanges of telegrams (FCO telno 1293, Hong Kong telno 1939 and Peking telno 1440) leave unresolved two questions: what should be said on the future of the Governor and what should be said about continuity of the systems in force before and after

1997?

2. As you know, Ministers have taken no decision on possible changes in the role of the Governor in the 1990's. Mr Powell's letter of 11 July to Mr Appleyard conveys the Prime Minister's instruction that the question should be left open. The last sentence of paragraph 23 of the statement is drafted in a more leading way than paragraph 65 of the Green Paper, which merely floats the idea of an elected Governor as a possibility. I am concerned that it may be seen in Hong Kong as a hint that a decision to this effect has been taken by Ministers. The Chinese, too, may get the wrong impression.

3. I think it would be preferable if the Governor could be persuaded to omit the sentence. We could scarcely object, however, if he wished to quote the wording of the Green Paper exactly. I submit a draft telegram on these lines.

4. Given that the Ambassador is content with the last sentence of paragraph 25, I see no need to press the point in (c) of FCO telno 1293.

Этовый

A C Galsworthy

Hong Kong Department

16 July 1984

(250) G. * This has now

bren

slightly

amended

телно

by Hong

Hong Kong

Kong Telno

1969. This amendment does not affect our view.

на вности

Le spoke. Mease despaths of the ammended draps.

мар

makes sense

le

SECRET

=-6767

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