TNAG-1287-FCO40-1638-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 42

SECRET

HICK 0111 3

RECEIVED IN AEGISTH:

1 1 JUL 1984

Bear Charles,

JRE

JAN

HVD

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

10 July, 1984

วย

See (24

Future of Hong Kong: Constitutional Development up to

and After 1997

On 25 June the Secretary of State minuted to the Prime Minister about constitutional development in Hong Kong before 1997. With this minute was enclosed a paper on the role of the Governor in the 1990s. This examined alternatives for possible changes to the role and method of appointment of the Governor.

The paper sets out four main alternative approaches:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

retention of a British Governor appointed from London up to 1997;

a locally elected Governor taking over the full administrative powers of the present office;

retention of a British Governor appointed from London but with an elected local Chief Minister;

a locally elected Governor, but with powers reserved to HMG for foreign affairs and defence.

This paper was considered by OD(K) on 28 June. The Sub-Committee invited the Secretary of State to discuss the future role and method of appointment of the Governor with Sir Edward Youde and Sir Richard Evans.

The Governor and the Ambassador have now discussed the governorship with FCO Ministers. I attach a copy of the paper, considered by them. It was agreed that we should leave our options open on the role of the Governor, and in particular that we should not take any action that would rule out the possibility of an elected Governorship before 1997 as our eventual aim. It was also agreed that we should not approach the Chinese on the question at this stage.

I should be grateful to know if the Prime Minister can agree to the proposed course of action.

I am copying this letter to other Private Secretaries of OD(K).

Your ever. Len Arreeyaa

(L V Appleyard)

Private Secretary

C D Powell Esq 10 Downing Street

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