TNAG-1356-FCO40-1797-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 74

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(1)

ALTHOUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS FOR THE JOINT DECLARATION HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN, HONG KONG ALREADY FINDS ITSELF IN THE MIDST OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ARGUMENTS ABOUT THE SPEED AND SCOPE OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THOSE DEVELOPMENTS AND THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING EFFORT. THIS IS REGRETTABLE AS IT WILL NOT HELP HONG KONG'S AMBITIONS TO MAINTAIN INTERNATIONAL CONFIDENCE.'

(44) '.... THE CONSEQUENCES OF ANY MEASURES CAPABLE OF THREATENING (OUR ECONOMIC) SUCCESS EVEN TEMPORARILY DOES NOT BODE WELL FOR THE LONGER-TERM FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY. GRADUALISM IN THE BUSINESS CONTEXT IS ALWAYS PREFERABLE TO SUDDEN CHANGE.'

YOUDE

"HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RES (MR WALKER)

PS

PS/MR RENTON

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVS MR MARTIN ASST STAFF

CABINET OFFICE

MR MALLABY CABINET OFFICE MR DRC CHRISTOPHER

CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADDOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST. MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS

PS/PUS

BIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

MR J CROWLEY PUSD

4.

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