TNAG-1288-FCO40-1639-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 86

CONFIDENTIAL

Redacted under FOI exemption 40(2)

elected in 1985. Those who have advised against making

too many changes too quickly will be pleased to note that

the elected members of LEGCO will still be in a minority

in 1985 and that there are no firm proposals for direct

elections. I have informed the Governor that he may

proceed with the publication of the White Paper, subject

to detailed consideration of its text by EXCO.

I have also considered the question of how and when

to consult or inform the Chinese before the publication

of the White Paper. Hong Kong's view is that there ought

to be little in the revised proposals that should alarm

the Chinese, as they do not involve the introduction of

direct elections or any changes in the Executive Council

or the position of the Governor. However, the Governor

considers that it would be prudent to given the Chinese

more notice than we did before the Green Paper was

published (24 hours). Peking agree with this. I have

therefore given instructions that the text should be

handed over 4 or 5 days before publication, and explained

in detail to the Chinese, though without seeking their

views on it. The Ambassador will take the line that the

proposals do not vary significantly from the Green Paper

and are entirely consistent with the terms of the draft

agreement. There is of course a danger that the Chinese

will object to certain parts of the White Paper and seek

to make amendments,

If so, we shall have to consider

carefully whether we can accommodate these. But I

/believe

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