TNAG-1356-FCO40-1797-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 234

GRS 280

CONFIDENTIAL

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Mr Becke

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO PRIORITY FCO

TELNO 2211

OF 180704Z OCTOBER 35

INFO PRIRITY PEKING

BASIC LAW: PRESS BRIEFING BY XU JIATUN.

WE HAVE SECURED A RELIABLE ACCOUNT OF A BACKGROUND BRIEFING GIVEN BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE NCNA ON 27 SEPTEMBER, THE CONTENTS OF WHICH WERE WITHOUT DOUBT INTENDED TO GET BACK TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. MAIN POINTS BY TODAY'S BAG TO HONG KONG DEPARTMENT.

2. IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION ON THE BASIC LAW, XU IS RECORDED AS HAVING SPOKEN AS FOLLOWS:

'XU HOPED THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE NOTE OF DEVELOPMENTS ON THE BASIC LAW. IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE IF A WAY COULD BE FOUND OF BRINGING THE THINKING OF THE TWO GOVERNMENTS CLOSER TOGETHER. CO-OPERATION ALONG THESE LINES WOULD BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE JOINT DECLARATION''.

3. NO DOUBT XU CONCEIVES THE MAIN ADJUSTMENT IN THINKING ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT AS FALLING TO THE BRITISH SIDE. IT MUST BE AMONG HIS TASKS TO MAKE SURE THAT ARRANGEMENTS INTRODUCED HERE DO NOT PRE-EMPT CHINESE PLANS TO SETTLE HONG KONG'S

XU FUTURE CONSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE IN THE BASIC LAW. THAT SAID, HAS GIVEN US A SIGNAL THAT THERE MAY BE SOME ROOM FOR A MEETING OF MINDS. IT IS NOT EXCLUDED THAT HE WOULD FIND IT CONVENIENT FOR A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES TO BE CARRIED ON LOCALLY IN HONG KONG. THERE IS AN OPENING HERE ON WHICH WE CAN IN DUE COURSE

BUILD.

YOUDE

LIMITED

HKD

FED

LEGAL ADUS

MR WILSON

нин опп

RECEIVED IN PURSNEY

I

2 9 OCT 1985

Ckr

STAY

Gakon

CONFIDENTIAL