TNAG-1317-FCO40-1720-Future-of-Hong-Kong-meetings-of-the-Cabinet-Defence-and-Over-1984 — Page 87

SECRET

attempt by HMG to throw off their responsibilities and establish a quasi-independent Hong Kong.

4. It is important to note that

that the acceptability of any proposals for changes in the role or method of appointment of the Governor will be judged in the present context, not that of the 1990's. However logical the proposals may seem

seem for

for introduction only a few years before 1997, they must also command confidence in Hong Kong at this unusually sensitive time.

5. These proposals need to be considered against the background that there may well be, by that time, some form of joint Sino-British group in Hong Kong. This issue is discussed more fully in a separate paper but, in brief, the strong Chinese desire to establish such a group in Hong Kong may give us some opportunity to secure some compensatory advantages, by agreeing to it at an appropriate time and with strict terms of reference.

ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES

6.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

There are 4 main alternative approaches:

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.

I

to 1997.

It

7. Option (a) would ensure the retention by HMG of the powers necessary to fulfil our responsibility for Hong Kong up would, however, me an that the system of locally generated

autonomous institutions in Hong Kong before 1997 would not be