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CONFIDENTIAL
OCMIAN 6837
CONFIDENTIAL
OO HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
191545Z NOV
GRS 1102
HRK OCI!!
RECEIVED IN
EGISTRY 26 NOV 1985
AGB
jaken
"
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1823
OF 191545Z NOVEMBER 85
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
6837
302
MY SECOND IPT: JOINT LIAISON GROUP: DEVELOPMENTS IN
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
DEFENSIVE POINTS TO MAKE
1. YOU ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO SEEK DIRECT
ELECTIONS
NOT TRUE. HAVE BEEN VERY CAREFUL TO SAY WE HAVE NO PRECONCEIVED IDEAS ABOUT RIGHT SYSTEM FOR HONG KONG. WISH TO LISTEN TO PUBLIC VIEWS IN HONG KONG ON THIS POINT. DISCUSSION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS NOT NEW: PARA 25 OF 1984 WHITE PAPER ASSESSED STATE OF PUBLIC
OPINION AT THE TIME ON THIS QUESTION.
2. YOU HAVE SAID (CF MR RENTON) THAT WESTMINSTER NOT RESPONSIBLE, BUT UP TO HONG KONG PEOPLE. NOT CONSISTENT WITH
JOINT DECLARATION
THIS IS MISUNDERSTANDING OF OUR POSITION. OF COURSE FULLY ACCEPT OUR RESPONSIBILITY UNDER JOINT DECLARATION. POINT WAS THAT WE DO NOT INTEND TO FOIST WESTMINSTER SYSTEM WILLY NILLY ON HONG KONG. WISH TO MOVE IN STEP WITH PUBLIC OPINION IN HONG KONG, AND THEREFORE TO LISTEN TO IT. CAN ONLY GOVERN EFFECTIVELY WITH
CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED.
3. CHANGES WILL AFFECT STABILITY AND PROSPERITY
WON'T INTRODUCE CHANGES WHICH WOULD AFFECT STABILITY AND
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