TNAG-1396-FCO40-1868-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1985 — Page 111

CONFIDENTIAL

(C) THERE WAS SOME INCONCLUSIVE DISCUSSION ADCUT THE MERITS OF HAVING THE BASIC LAW COMPLETED SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. PROFESSOR FINER, PARTLY SUPPORTED BY MR. MARTIN LEE, TOOK THE VIEW THAT THE SOONER THE GAPS IN THE AGREEMENT ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE WERE FILLED IN THE BETTER, SINCE THIS WOULD REMOVE UNCERTAINTY.V

OTHERS POINTED TO THE VIRTUE OF ALLOWING THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S MOVES TOWARDS A MORE REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT TIME TO TAKE ROO, IN THE HOPE THAT THESE WOULD BE PERPETUATED BY THE BASIC LAW AND THAT AN INAPPROPRIATE SYSTEM CONCEIVED IN PEKING MIGHT BE AVOIDED.

(D) PROFESSOR FINER SAID THAT HE THOUGH HONG KONGS FUTURE WAS MUCH MORE ''DICEY! THATN PEOPLE THOUGHT. PEKING WOULD HAVE TO TREAD A LOT MORE CAREFULLY IF THE PROBLEMS HE HAD IDENTIFIED WERE TO BE RESOLVED TO HONG KONG'S SATISFACTION.

YOUDE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER)

PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

MR J CROWLEY, PUSD

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS

MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET

OFFICE

MR CARTLEDGE. CABINET OFFICE MR DR C CHRISTOPHER. CABINET OFF. SIR P CRADDOCK, No. 10 DOWNING ST.

CONFIDENTIAL