TNAG-1442-FCO40-1926-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 136

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK on!

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

28 AUG 1986

Putory,

Maakso

(360)

GRS 200

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 2719

OF 22045OZ AUGUST 86

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

INDEX

PA

Action Taken

8

HONG KONG GOVERNMENT: RESTRICTED: FUTURE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE

OUR TELNO 2637 REPORTED ON THE DRAFTING OF A PAPER ON THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE OF THE HK SAR BY A GROUP OF BLCC MEMBERS COMPRISING MAINLY BUSINESSMEN AND PROFESSIONALS. THE PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF THIS PAPER RECEIVED MODERATE PRESS COVERAGE TODAY. 57 BLCC MEMBERS HAVE SHOWN THEIR SUPPORT TO THIS PAPER.

2. PROPOSALS WHICH WERE MADE PUBLIC CLOSELY FOLLOW WHAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY REPORTED EXCEPT THAT THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE NOMINATING BODY REFERRED TO IN PARA. 3(A) OF TUR.

3. THE GROUP SAID THAT THE PROPOSALS SET OUT IN THE PAPER WERE PRELIMINARY ONES AND WERE SUBJECT TO FURTHER REVISIONS. THEY SAID THAT THESE PROPOSALS PRESERVED THE MERITS OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM AND WERE FORMULATED WITH A VIEW TO FOSTERING CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF HK. THE ANNOUNCEMENT HAS NOT YET EVOKED ANY PRESS COMMENTS

COPY OF THE PAPER WHICH WAS MADE PUBLIC WILL BE FAXED TO YOU.

5. WE ALSO LEARNT THAT ANOTHER GROUP OF BLCC MEMBERS COMPRISING SOCIAL WORKERS, LAWYERS, EDUCATIONISTS, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS BODIES WOULD ANNOUNCE TODAY THEIR COUNTER-PROPOSALS ON THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE OF THE HK SR. THE IR PAPER IS MUCH SHORTER AND CONTAINS ONLY BROAD OUTLINES.

CONFIDENTIAL

/ THE