TNAG-1356-FCO40-1797-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 189

GRS 600

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

79a)

TO DESKBY 131200Z FCO

TELNO 2491

OF 131055Z NOVEMBER 85

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

SECRET

HKK 011/1

1 5 NOV 1985

PA

7th Leeks 253

AB

15/11

MIPT : JOINT LIAISON GROUP : REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT THỐNG KONG.

:

1. THE CHINESE PROPOSAL IS CLEARLY OF MAJOR SIGNIFICANCE AND CALLS FOR THE MOST CAREFUL APPPAISAL. IT MIGHT HELP EXPLAIN EXCO'S ASSESSMENT AND ADVICE REPOPTED IN MIPT IF I SET CUT OUR ANALYSIS OF THE CHINESE SIDE'S PIECE OF PAPER (PEKING TELNO 1619) AND THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN HONG KONG AGAINST WHICH IT SHOULD BE

CONSIDERED.

2.

Future 040/42

(105

Redacted under FOI exemption section 27(1).

3. ALTHOUGH THIS APPROACH IS REASONABLY LOW-KEY, ITS POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS APE SUBSTANTIAL. IT MUST ALSO BE LOOKED AT AGAINST

THE HIGHLY CHARGED POLITICAL ATMOSPHEPE IN HONG KONG. AS YOU KNOW, IT

HAS BECOME A VERY TOPICAL ISSUE IN THE MEDIA HERE WHETHER WE INTEND

TO CONSULT THE CHINESE ON OUR PLANS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL

DEVELOPMENT, OP OTHERWISE ALLOW THEM TO HAVE A SAY IN SHAPING OUR PLANS. THE QUESTION WILL INEVITABLY BE ASKED AFTER THE NEXT JLG /MEETING

SECRET