CONFIDENTIAL
- 2.
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See Section ĺ
of Annex I
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based on the assumption that things in Hong Kong after 1997 would be "preserved as they are today except sovereignty". Elections might involve "a big jolt". This question needs discussion and exploration. The matter would be subject to the basic law. If a change in the basic structure of Government is involved this would be a matter going beyond the day to day administration of Hong Kong which is for the British Government until 1997.
If arrangements were made in Hong Kong which contradict the basic law it would not be helpful to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. Prime Minister ZHAO Ziyang had said this to Mrs Thatcher during his recent visit to London.
I said that I fully understood his point and as I had already mentioned was in favour of caution regarding the development of institutional arrangements. He would understand that in the British Parliamentary system individual backbenchers speak their own minds. Some are more intelligent and have better judgment than others. So he should not imagine, if he read of speeches in Parliament calling for full democracy in Hong Kong on the Westminster style, that this represented the views of the British/Hong Kong Parliamentary Group (or, of course, of HMG). I believed the majority of members of the Group agree with my approach. As I recalled the UK/Ching agreement did not talk of democracy but of representative government. I saw no reason to imagine that a Westminster style system would suit Chinese people. I was glad ZHAO had explained China's position to Mrs Thatcher, and that ZHOU Nan had said the subject needed discussion and exploration.
13.
CONFIDENTIAL
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