TNAG-1287-FCO40-1638-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 99

НКК

DL

F.X

0113

1 JUL1984

ISTRY

SECRET

Serena frate

Sir Pradock

has ocen

Private Secretary

FROM: R D CLIFT, HKD

DATE: 9 July 1984

cc: PS/Mr Luce PS/PUS

✓

Sir W Harding Sir J Freeland Mr Orr, FED

Moisine

Mr Walker, Research Dept

MA

/

A

FUTURE OF HONG KONG:

AND AFTER 1997

PROBLEM

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT UP TO

1. To seek the Prime Minister's approval of the course of action agreed between FCO Ministers, the Governor and Sir R Evans in connection with constitutional development in Hong Kong up to and after 1997.

RECOMMENDATION

2.

I recommend that the Private Secretary write to the Prime Minister's Private Secretary along the lines of the attached draft.

BACKGROUND

3.

On 25 June the Secretary of State minuted the Prime Minister and OD(K) colleagues about constitutional development in Hong Kong before 1997. With his 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. sets out four main alternative approaches:

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

The paper

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.

SECRET

/4. This