TNAG-1439-FCO40-1923-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 61

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 2709OOZ FCO

TELNO 938

OF 2703OOZ MARCH 86

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

PART ONE OF TWO

MY SECOND IPT: REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, THE BASIC LAW AND THE 1987 REVIEW.

1. THE FOLLOWING IS THE REVISED TEXT OF THE PAPER IN HONG KONG TELNO 849:

THE QUESTION OF CONVERGENCE

DURING THE MEETING OF THE JOINT LIAISON 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 IDEAS.

2. THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF BUILDING ON THE EXISTING INSTITUT- JONS WHICH HAVE SERVED HONG KONG WELL: WHILE ALLOWING FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT, IF THAT SHOULD BE THE WASH OF THE COMMUNITY. PAPER NO 1. DESCRIBES HOW THE PRESENT GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS IN HONG KONG OPERATE IN PRACTICE AND THE NTER-RELATIONSHIP OF THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS IN 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

4. UNDER ARTICLE 3(12) OF THE JOINT DECLARATION THE POLICIES STATED IN THE DECLARATION, AND ELABORATED IN ANNEX TO THE DECLARATION

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