TNAG-1441-FCO40-1925-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 266

GRS 650

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

CONFIDENTAL

HKK O!!!!

TO DESKBY 03100OZ FCEIVED IN KLUISTRY

TELNO 1696

- 9 JUN 1986

OF 030915Z JUNE 86 INFO IMMEDIATE PEKIN¢

DE

PA

201

AB 9/6

P COPY

MY TELNO 1632 AND YOUR TELNOS 1000 AND 1034. EXCHANGES WITH

THE CHINESE ON THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT. 056

1. OUR OBJECTIVES IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE ARE THREE-FOLD:

(A) TO DRAW THE CHINESE INTO A GENUINE DIALOGUE ON THE NEED FOR COMPATIBULINTY BETWEEN THE PROVISION TO BE MADE IN THE BASIC LAW

ON THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT AND OUR OWN PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT

OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG. HIT WOULD BE A BONUS #F

WE COULD REACH AGREEMENT ON THE MAIN PRINCIPLES OF THE CONVERGENCE

PAPER (PAPER 2) AND DRAW THE CHINESE INTO FURTHER DISCUSSIONS ON THE

DETAILS:

(B) TO OBTAIN SPECIFIC CHINESE ACCEPTANCE THAT DIRECT ELECTIONS CAN BE INTRODUCED IN 1988 IF THERE IS A CONSENSUS IN FAVOUR OF THEM **

HONG KONG:

(C) TO KEEP THE SUBJECT OFF THE AGENDA OF JLG HV ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT WILL STIR UP SPECULATION ABOUT WHAT IS BEING DISCUSSED BETWEEN HMG AND THE CHINESE, AND LEAD TO SUSPICION THAT THE CHINESE ARE BEING GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO NULLIFY THE 1987 REVIEW.

2. IN SEEKING THESE OBJECTIVES, APART FROM PERMANENT CHANNELS SUCH AS THE AMBASSADOR TO ZHOU NAN AND MYSELF TO XU JIATUN, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE THEIR PROBLEMS, THE MAIN OPPORTUNITIES FOR TAKING DISCUSSION FORWARD DURING THE REST OF 1986 WILL BE

(A) HU YAOBANG'S VISIT TO THE UK. ZHOU MAY GIVE MR. RENTON AN INITIAL CHINESE RESPONSE TO THE PAPERS OR MAY POSSIBLY JUST CARRY OUT A HOLDING OPERATION, BUT ETHER WAY THIS WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GO OVER THE GROUND AGAIN (AND IN PARTICULAR TO EXPLAIN WHY WE DO NOT WISH TO DISCUSS THIS SUBJECT AT THIS STAGE IN THE

JLG.)

(B) MY VISIT TO PEKING IN EARLY SEPTEMBER (MY TELNO 1627 REFERS). * SEE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S MEETINGS IN THE AUTUMN WITH WU, BUT IT COULD ALSO BE USED TO PICK UP ANY POINTS MADE BY ZHOU NEXT MONTH (OR BY KE AT

JLG V).

(C) SECRETARY OF STATE'S POSSIBLE MEETING WITH WU AT UNGA IN LATE SEPTEMBER. AT THIS MEETING WE WOULD HOPE TO PERSUADE THE CHINESE TO GIVE SOME KIND OF

DIRECT ELECTIONS.

GREEN LIGHT'' TO HONG KONG ON LIMITED

CONFIDENTIAL

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