TNAG-1356-FCO40-1797-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 179

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CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 13120OZ FCO

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RECEIVED IN UYGISTRY

INDEX

14 NOV 1985

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M.I.P.T : HONG KONG AGREEMENT : JOINT LIAISON GROUP ·

•

REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.

T

1. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE MAIN POINTS OF AN ARTICLE WHICH HAS APPEARED IN THIS MONTHS ISSUE OF THE CHINESE MAGAZINE MIRROR'' THE WRITER IS A WELL KNOWN PURVEYOR OF THE ORTHODOX CHINESE LINE:

BEGINS:

(A) THE BRITISH SIDE'S AIM IS TO PERPETUATE THE ESTABLISHED, PRO-BRITISH LEADERSHIP IN HONG KONG BEYOND 1997.

(B) THE CHINESE SIDE'S AIM IS TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG'S FUTURE POLITICAL SYSTEM DOES NOT BECOME A POLITICAL ENTITY INDEPENDENT OF THE PARENT ENTITY'' (1.E. CHINA), WHICH WOULD AFFECT THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN CHINA AND ENDANGER ITS SOCIALIST SYSTEM.

AB

(C) THE AIM OF THE GREEN PAPER, WHICH IS TO ESTABLISH A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT FIRMLY ROOTED IN HONG KONG AND BE MORE DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, IS CONTRARY TO THE **ONE-COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEM' CONCEPT. UNDER THE LATTER, THE AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG IS DERIVED FROM ARTICLE 31 OF THE CHINESE CONSTITUTION: THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG WILL THUS BE ACCOUNTABLE NOT ONLY TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, BUT ALSO TO THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS AND THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.

(D) THE BRITISH SIDE'S TACTIC IS TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN ESTABLISHING A STATUS QUO, WHICH THE CHINESE SIDE IS THEN OBLIGED TO ACCEPT. THE MEANS OF DOING THIS IS BY PLAYING THE PUBLIC

OPINION CARD''

(E) THE PROPER STEP IS FOR THE BRITISH SIDE TO CONSULT THE CHINESE SIDE'S OPINION THROUGH THE FORUM OF THE JLG. THE VIEW, EXPRESSED BY CERTAIN HKG OFFICIALS, THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IS A MATTER SOLELY FOR THE BRITISH

(OR HONG KONG) GOVERNMENT IS WRONG.

(F) THE STARTING POINT OF THE 'NO CHANGE FOR 50 YEARS' PROMISE IS THE POLITICAL, LEGAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM AND THE WAY OF LIFE AT THE TIME OF THE RATIFICATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, AND NOT THE SITUATION PERTAINING IN 1997.

COT IDENTIAL

BY

18/11

TIG