TNAG-1354-FCO40-1795-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 23

Τ

CONFIDENTIAL

18643

1

B)

BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE. THE SECRETARY OF STATE MIGHT

SAY THAT WE ARE GLAD TO NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE PEOPLE FROM HONG

KONG ON THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE. BOTH FOR PRACTICAL AND

PRESENTATIONAL REASONS ESSENTIALLY THEY SHOULD BE CREDIBLE

EXPERTS. WE HAVE HEARD THAT MEMBERS OF UMELCO AND THE HONG KONG

JUDICIARY ARE LIKELY TO BE APPOINTED TO THE COMMITTEE. THIS IS

WELCOME. VITALLY IMPORTANT TO GET THE BASIC LAW RIGHT.

C) AIR SERVICES. WE COULD NOTE THAT DTP/CAAC TALKS ARE SOON TO TAKE PLACE. AT PRESENT THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE IMBALANCE BETWEEN

THE LARGE NUMBER OF CAAC FLIGHTS TO HONG KONG AND THE SMALL

NUMBER OF BA AND CALLAY FLIGHTS TO CHINA. WE WOULD HOPE THAT THE

TALKS WOULD RESULT IN A FAIR AGREEMENT FOR HONG KONG'S INTERESTS.

RESULTS WILL BE NOTED AS AN INDICATOR OF FUTURE INTENTIONS.

D) LAND (DEFENSIVE). DEPENDING ON WHERE WE HAVE GOT TO, THE SECRETARY OF STATE MAY NEED TO RESIST CHINESE DEMANDS ON

COUNTERSIGNATURE OF NEW LEASES AND AN OFFICE IN HONG KONG WHICH

COULD RECEIVE REPRESENTATIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

E) DEFENCE AND KOHIMA (DEFENSIVE). WE SHALL NEED TO BE

PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE STRICTURES ON MAJOR-GENERAL BOORMAN'S RECENT STATEMENT AND TO EXPLAIN THAT ANY DECISION NOT TO PROCEED WITH KOHIMA WILL ONLY RESULT IN THE SIZE OF THE GARRISON RETURNING TO ITS PRE-1980 LEVEL. WE FULLY ACCEPT OUR

RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN STABILITY IN HONG KONG UP TO 1997.

GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS DESKBY 200830Z.

5.

HOWE

COPIES TO

NNNN

X

DISTRIBUTION

LIMITED

HKD

FED

PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING MR WILSON

SIR P CRADOCK MO 10 DOWNING ST.

2

CONFIDENTIAL