TNAG-1356-FCO40-1797-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 176

SECRET

5385 - 1

THAN SUGGEST). SUCH A REBUFF WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE

CHINESE SIDE TO JUSTIFY CONCESSIONS TO OUR VIEW IN OTHER AREAS.

AT THE VERY LEAST WE WOULD THEREFORE BE LOADING THE DICE AGAINST

ANY POSITIVE DECISIONS ON SUBJECTS OF IMPORTANCE TO US AT THE

FORTHCOMING JLG MEETING. WE DO NOT SHARE EXCO'S BELIEF THAT THE

CHINESE WILL PERCEIVE A NEED FOR THESE DECISIONS IN ORDER TO

MAINTAIN THEIR OWN CREDIBILITY IN HONG KONG.

5.

MOREOVER BY REFUSING TO AGREE THAT THE SUBJECT

BE DISCUSSED AT ALL IN THE JLG WE SHOULD BE PUTTING OURSELVES IN

A POSITION WHICH WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO DEFEND, CERTAINLY AT

WESTMINSTER, WHERE WE BELIEVE THERE IS A WIDESPREAD VIEW THAT WE

OUGHT TO DISCUSS PRECISELY THIS SORT OF THING WITH THE CHINESE.

WE APPRECIATE THAT MANY IN HONG KONG WILL NOT SEE IT IN QUITE

THIS WAY. BUT WE ARE NOT SURE THAT IT WOULD BE AS DIFFICULT AS

YOU SUGGEST TO PRESENT THE MATTER POSITIVELY IN HONG KONG IF WE

WERE TO SAY THAT AT CHINESE REQUEST WE HAD GIVEN THEM A BRIEFING

ON POLITICAL EVOLUTION IN HONG KONG UP TO DATE, AND TO ADD IF

NECESSARY THAT WE HAD NOT DISCUSSED FUTURE POLITICAL EVOLUTION

SINCE THERE IS AT THIS STAGE NOTHING TO DISCUSS. WE COULD EVEN

SAY THAT WE HAD EXPRESSED WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO ANY CHINESE

VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT: BUT UNTIL 1997 IT IS FOR US TO TAKE ANY

DECISIONS.

6.

THE KEY QUESTION SEEMS TO US TO BE NOT WHETHER THE ISSUE

IS TACKLED IN THE JLG OR NOT, BUT HOW IT IS TACKLED. WE FULLY

AGREE THAT WE ARE NOT IN A POSITION TO DISCUSS OUR OWN IDEAS ON

WHAT MIGHT COME OUT OF THE 1987 REVIEW. PROBABLY THE CHINESE ARE

ALSO NOT IN A POSITION TO TELL US THEIR IDEAS FOR THE BASIC LAW,

THOUGH WE CANNOT BE CERTAIN OF THIS UNTIL WE CHALLENGE THEM ON

IT. WE DO NOT THINK THAT WE SHOULD ACCEPT THE CHINESE PROPOSAL

THAT 'A STUDY BE MADE OF THE ISSUES CALLING FOR CONSULTATION AND

SOLUTION BY BOTH SIDES ON THIS BASIS'. WE SHOULD MERELY EXPRESS

WILLINGNESS TO LISTEN TO ANYTHING THAT THE CHINESE HAVE TO SAY ON

THIS SUBJECT. WE SHOULD USE THIS OCCASION TO GIVE A BROAD HINT

THAT FOR ANY DISCUSSION AT A LATER STAGE TO MAKE SENSE THEY WOULD

NEED TO EXPOUND TO US THEIR IDEAS ON WHAT MIGHT GO INTO THE BASIC

LAW. THIS SEEMS TO US TO BE THE BEST WAY OF APPROACHING EXCO'S

2

SECRET