TNAG-1439-FCO40-1923-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 31

GRS 2000

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 27090OZ FCO

TELNO 938

OF 2703OOZ MARCH 86

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

SECRET TOP COPY

HE༧༠t{{

RECT MEO VAL

STAY

4 APR 1986

PART ONE OF TWO

DELK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

1A984/4

MY SECOND #PT: REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, THE BASPC LAW AND

THE 1987 REVIEW.

1. THE FOLLOWING IS THE REVISED TEXT OF THE PAPER MIN HONG KONG

TELNO 849:

THE QUESTION OF CONVERGENCE

DURING THE MEETING OF THE JOHNT L'AFSON GROUP IN PEKING ON NOVEMBER 26-29, 1985 BOTH SIDES AGREED ON THE NEED TO ACHIEVE CONVERGENCE

· BETWEEN ANY REFORMS TO THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG

BEFORE 1997 AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE HONG KONG SAR AFTER 1997, AND TO CONDUCT DISCUSSIONS AND EXCHANGE VIEWS ON

THIS SUBJECT WITHOUT PRECONCEIVED -PDEAS.

2. THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG HAS

BEEN BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF BUILDING ON THE EXISTING INSTITUT- MONS WHICH HAVE SERVED HONG KONG WELL: WHILE ALLOWING FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT, IF THAT SHOULD BE THE WISH OF THE COMMUNITY. PAPER NO 1. DESCRIBES HOW THE PRESENT GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS IN HONG

KONG OPERATE EN PRACTICE AND THE INTER-RELATIONSHIP OF THE VARIOUS

ELEMENTS THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE, IN PARTICULAR THE GOVERNOR,

THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

3. PAPER NO 2 DESCRIBES THE PRESENT STATE OF HONG KONG OPINION ON

THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM FOLLOWING

THE REVIEW IN 1987. ESSENTIALLY THERE IS LIKELY TO BE LITTLE

CALL FOR ANY FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN THE STRUCTURE: THE MAIN ATTENTION

IS LIKELY TO BE FOCUSSED ON THE QUESTION OF INTRODUCING A NUMBER

OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND ON THAT

OF THE PRESIDENCY OF THAT COUNCIL.

THE JOINT DECLARATION

2

4. UNDER ARTICLE 3(12) OF THE JOINT DECLARATION THE POLICIES STATED

IN THE DECLARATION AND ELABORATED IN ANNEX TO THE DECLARATION

WILL BE STIPULATED IN THE BASIC LAW: THE JOINT DECLARATION CONTAINS

A NUMBER OF PROVISIONS ON THE STRUCTURE AND OPERATION OF THE FUTURE

SAR GOVERNMENT. THESE ARE : SECRET

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