TNAG-1287-FCO40-1638-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 274

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GISTRY

26 JUN1984

SECRET

SCHR

DD 260100Z HONG KONG

по ве

GRS 1936

THA

28215 1

SECRET

DESKBY 260100Z

FM FCO 251345Z JUNE 84

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1158 OF 25 JUNE

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

MIPT: FUTURE OF HONG KONG :

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF PAPER ON THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNOR IN THE

1990'S.

BEGINS:

MAJOR CONSIDERATIONS

1.

WE HAVE PROPOSED TO THE CHINESE THAT IN 1997 THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND HIS DEPUTY SHOULD BE ELECTED FROM AMONG LOCAL INHABITANTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROCEDURES APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITIES OF HONG KONG (CHINA) AND FORMALLY APPOINTED BY THE CENTRAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT. THE CHINESE IN THEIR DRAFT EXCHANGE OF NOTES HAVE STATED THAT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE SHOULD BE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE PRC ON THE BASIS OF THE RESULTS OF ELECTIONS OR CONSULTATIONS HELD LOCALLY. WHEN TALKING TO DELEGATIONS FROM HONG KONG, THE CHINESE HAVE TAKEN THE LINE THAT WHETHER ELECTIONS WOULD BE POSSIBLE IN 1997 REMAINS AN OPEN QUESTION. THEY HAVE INDICATED TO US THAT THEY WOULD EXPECT TO HAVE A GENERAL SAY ON SENIOR APPOINTMENTS IN THE

RUN-UP TO 1997. IN THE LAST FEW DAYS THERE HAVE BEEN INDICATIONS OF CHINESE DISQUIET ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF MORE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG, INCLUDING A REPORT THAT DENG XIAOPING TAKES THIS VIEW. BUT WE HAVE NO CLARIFICATION OF THIS YET.

2. IT IS CLEARLY IN THE INTERESTS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG THAT APPOINTMENTS SHOULD BE ON THE BASIS OF ELECTIONS RATHER THAN CONSULTATIONS. THIS WOULD REDUCE, THOUGH NOT ELIMINATE, THE POTENTIAL FOR CHINESE INTERFERENCE IN THE SYSTEM. WE SHOULD THEREFORE DO WHAT WE CAN TO CREATE A SITUATION WHEREBY THE CHINESE WOULD HAVE AS LITTLE EXCUSE AS POSSIBLE NOT TO HOLD

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