GRS 300
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2587
OF 200655Z NOVEMBER 85
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
CONFIDENTIAL
276
小
oul,
HKK 011/1
PA
AJB 22/
JOINT LIAISON GROUP : REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG
TODAY'S SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST CARRIED AN APTICLE BY MICHAEL CHUGANI, ENTITLED "PATH TO AN EAPLY TAKEOVER, WHICH IDENTIFIES A GROWING RIFT BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHIMA OVER POLITICAL CHANGES IN HONG KONG. THE ARTICLE REFERS TO THE SIGNALS GIVEN BY CHINESE OFFICIALS WARNING AGAINST THE FAST PACE OF POLITICAL REFORMS, AND OPINES THAT, DESPITE THE CONCILIATORY TONE OF STATEMENTS MADE BY HKG OFFICIALS, THIS DIFFERENCE OF VIEWS IS THREATENING TO PUT CRACKS IN THE 1997 AGREEMENT. IT MENTIONS THE ARTICLE IN THE 'MIRROR # MAGAZINE (A SUMMARY OF WHICH WAS IN HK TELNO 2492) AS A CLEAR SIGN OF THE CHINESE INTENSIFYING THEIR PROPAGANDA WAR ON THIS QUESTION, AND DRAWS A PARALLEL BETWEEN THIS AND THE PROPOGANDA WAR OF 1983. IT REFERS, IN PARTICULAR, TO THE TWO *SUGGESTIONS' IN THE 'MIRROR' ARTICLE THAT THE HKG WOULD POSTPONE THE 1987 REVIEW AND THAT THE QUESTIONS OF REFORMS CAN BE DISCUSSED IN THE JLG. IT CONCLUDES THAT THE CHINESE INTENTION IS TO DETERMINE HONG KONG'S FUTURE CONSTITUTIONAL STRUCTUPE IN THE BASIC LAW BY 1990, AND THEN HAVE IT IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, THEREBY IN EFFECT RECOVERING HONG KONG WELL BEFORE 1997.
2. CHUGANI DID NOT QUOTE OR ATTRIBUTE REMARKS TO ANY OFFICIAL SOURCES ON EITHER SIDE. BUT THE PUBLICATION OF THE ARTICLE ON THE EVE OF THE JLG MEETING IS UNHELPFUL.
YOUDE
*HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RES D (MR WALKER)
PS
PS/MR FENTON
PS/PUS
SIR W HARDING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
MR J CROWLEY PUSD
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVS MR MARTIN ASST STAFF
CABINET OFFICE
MR MALLABY CABINET OFFICE MR DRC CHRISTOPHER
CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADDOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST. MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS
CONFIDENTIAL
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