TNAG-1287-FCO40-1638-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 111

GRS 350

SECRET

DESKBY 03110OZ FCO

FI HONG KONG 030955Z JUL 34

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

SECRET

TELEGRAT NUMBER 1803 OF 3 JULY

INFO IKMEDIATE PEKING

YOUR TELNO 1198

(25)

ЧСК

01113

RECEIVED IN REJISTRY

·4 JUL1984

DENK OSATZ

INDEX

PA

sh

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

CONSULTATIONS IN LONDON AND WITH EXCO.

1. I TOLD EXECUTIVE COUNCIL THIS MORNING OF THE ISSUES WHICH I WOULD BE DISCUSSING IN LONDON THIS WEEK AS SET OU IN PARA 1 OF YOUR TUR, AND THAT I WOULD NEED TO TAKE THEIR ADVICE ON THESE MATTERS ON MY RETURN.

2. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE DISCUSSSION ON THE QUESTION OF THE ELECTION OF A GOVERNOR IN THE 1990'S IN THE CONTEXT OF THE GREEN

PAPER. BUT MEMBERS RECOGNISED THAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES

INVOLVED, BOTH LOCALLY AND IN RELATION TO HMG, WERE MAJOR ONES. THEY LOOKED FORWARED TO A PAPER SETTING OUT THE ISSUES CAREFULLY.

THEY BELIEVED THAT THE SELECTION AND POWERS OF THE GOVERNOR WOULD

BE AN ISSUE OF BURNING INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY AND THAT PUBLIC OPINION, WHICH WOULD BE ALERTED BY THE PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN PAPER, WOULD NEED TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY INTO ACCOUNT BEFORE ANY

CONCLUSIONS WERE REACHED.

3. ON WHETHER THE LOCATION OF THE JOINT GROUP SHOULD BE USED AS A BARGAINING COUNTER, THERE WAS LITTLE DISCUSSION SINCE THE ISSUES INVOLVED HAVE NOT YET BEEN SET OUT FOR THEM. BUT THE INITIAL REACTION OF MEMBERS, UNPROMPTED, WAS TO EXPRESS THEIR SERIOUS CONCERN AT THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG

KONG. THEY WILL EXPECT TO BE CONSULTED FORMALLY ON MY RETURN.

YOUDE

Origiaci at:

CHECKS O26/12 This Copy tor:

Jutero.ction ody fader on Party

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

COPIES TO:-

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISERS(SIR J FREELAND) PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

SIR C TICKELL MR GOODALL

PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:- (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT

MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS

MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS

MR POWELL NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR INGHAM NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFIC MR CARTLEDGE CABINET OFFICE

MR BRENNAN

CABINET OFFICE

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE

PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR P CRADOCK ROOM K195

SECRET SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST.

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