TNAG-1442-FCO40-1926-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 71

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OCMIAN 6636

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OO HOKON

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

0314402 ост

GRS 497-

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TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

HKK

see 386

14 OCT 1986

DESK OFFICER

See 388

INDEX

PA

TELNO 2146

OF 03144OZ OCTOBER 86

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

ARTICLE IN HONG KONG MONITOR:

1987 REVIEW

1.

WE IMAGINE YOU HAVE SEEN THE FIRST ISSUE OF QUOTE HONG

KONG MONITOR UNQUOTE, PUBLISHED BY THE FRIENDS OF HONG KONG

COMMITTEE. THIS REPRINTS A SELECTION OF EMILY LAU'S ARTICLES

FROM THE FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW.

2.

NEWS DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY SHEILA DAWES OF

THE ORIENTAL DAILY IN CONNECTION WITH EMILY LAU'S STATEMENT (PAGE

9) THAT THE CHIEF SECRETARY QUOTE HAS SAID THE HKG WOULD SHOW

CHINA THE 1987 REVIEW BEFORE ITS PUBLIC RELEASE UNQUOTE. ASKED

FOR CONFIRMATION OF THIS STATEMENT, NEWS DEPT HAVE REPLIED THAT

IT IS TOO EARLY TO CONSIDER IN DETAIL HOW THE REVIEW WILL BE

HANDLED.

3.

THIS IS OF COURSE A VERY DELICATE AREA. AS WE SEE IT,

THERE IS ON BALANCE AN ADVANTAGE IN LETTING IT BE KNOWN IN HONG

KONG THAT WE EXCHANGE VIEWS INFORMALLY WITH THE CHINESE ON

QUESTIONS OF COMPATIBILITY RAISED BY CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE IN

HONG KONG AND THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW. ARGUABLY THIS

SHOULD BE REASSURING: IT LESSENS THE RISK OF INCOMPATIBILITY

OR CONFLICT, AND ALSO IMPLIES THAT WE ARE TRYING TO INFLUENCE THE

DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW IN HONG KONG'S INTEREST. IT IS OF

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