CONFIDENTIAL
1.
plan of course move
to give Hong Kong greater
autonomy in the coming years. We are already taking the
first steps in the fields of shipping and civil aviation.
In the development of
need to move cautiously.
as the role of
representative
government we will
In particular on such questions
the Chief Executive we shall have to take
the Chinese with us.
The recent
of sensitisation
Hong
Kong public opinion towards moves
designed to develop
representational
government
has
been striking.
From
now
move
with
on we shall have to scrutinise every further
these sensitivities in mind.
As
you rightly point out,
Westminster style democracy will not be the model for
Hong Kong.
We have
to consider every political
institution we leave behind from
the point of view of its
likely operation after 1997, when Hong Kong will be
under the ultimate authority of a government which has
very different ideals from Locke and Hume.
8.
As you say there may well be another
uneasiness in Hong Kong
in the 1990s.
Government will do all it can
continuing commitment to the
period of
to demonstrate
The British
its
territory.
We will
have to
pay particular attention in
this period
to morale
in
the
Civil Service and the police.
9.
fully,
The Government will implement the agreement
and I am confident that the Chinese will too. They have
already
demonstrated that they are
sensitive to the need
not
to appear to be interfering in
the
administration of
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