TNAG-1437-FCO40-1921-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 137

GRS 1000

SECRET

FM PEKING

TO DESKBY 02100DZ FCO

TELNO 006

OF 020835Z JANUARY 36

SECRET

HRR OUL!!

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

- 3 JAN 1986

DESK OFFICER

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY

AB

Taken

PADY,

4

HONG KONG TELNOS 2908-10 AND 2915 AND YOUR TELNO 2060: REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT: CONVERGENCE WITH THE BASIC LAW AND THE 1987 REVIEW

1. . WE TOO FOUND THESE PAPERS MOST USEFUL. I HAVE ANUMBER OF PRELIMINARY COMMENTS, I SHALL LIMIT DETAILED COMMENT TO PART II OF THE DRAFT PAPER, DEALING WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE QUESTION OF CONVERGENCE. PART 111, OPTIONS FOR THE 1987 REVIEW, IS NOT AN AREA WHERE I FEEL QUALIFIED TO COMMENT IN DETAIL, ALTHOUGH I WOULD MAKE THE GENERAL POINT THAT THE CHINESE REACTION TO THE OPTIONS CANVASSED IN THE PAPER WOULD PROBABLY CONTAIN AN ELEMENT OF RELIEF - IN THEIR WORST FEARS THEY PROBABLY IMAGINE THAT WE HAVE IN MIND REFORMS A GOOD DEAL MORE FAR REACHING THAN THE POSSIBILITIES FOR 1997 SET OUT IN THE PAPER. THAT IS NOT TO SAY, OF COURSE, THAT THEY WOULD NECESSARILY BE HAPPY FOR US TO PUT ANY OR

ALL OF THE OPTIONS INTO PRACTICE.

2.

MY DETAILED COMMENTS ON PART 11 OF THE DRAFT PAPER ARE:

•

(A) PARAGRAPH 5 SECOND SENTENCE CHINESE SUSPICION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS ALSO DERIVES FROM THE FACT THAT ON THE MAINLAND THEY DO NOT ELECT DIRECTLY MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY OTHER THAN AT THE LOWEST LEVELS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT. NOR DO THEY WISH TO EXPOSE

THEMSELVES TO THE POSSIBILITY OF A PARTY CANDIDATE COMING OFF

WORST IN A DIRECT CONTEST.

(B) PARAGRAPHS 12 AND 18, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SAR CHIEF EXECTIVE AND THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.

(1) I IMAGINE THAT, THE CHINESE

ENVISAGE A CONTINUATION OF THE PRESENT PATTERN 1.E. THAT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE IS ALSO THE INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNTABLE TO THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OF THE METROPOLITAN POWER FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE TERRITORY. THIS PATTERN ALREADY EXISTS IN REGIONAL COVERNMENT IN CHINA, IN WHICH PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE STATE COUNCIL. I DOUBT THAT THE CHINESE WOULD DESPATCH A SEPARATE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TO HONG KONG.

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