TNAG-1443-FCO40-1927-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 116

GRO 190

Secret

SECRET

F1 PEKINO

TO DESKRY 2909OOZ FOO

TELNO 2059

OF 2007417 OCTOBER 26

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

YOUR TELNO'S 2402 AND 2405- TO HONG KONC: CARERS FOR ?? (K): PAPER ON REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.

1. WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON THE REDRAFTED PAPER:-

1

(A) PARAGRAPH 25, LAST SENTENCE (IN SPACKETS). AS DRAFTER, THIS A LITTLE MISLEADING. THE PEASON CHINESE MEMBERS PAVE?NOT FORMELLY EXPRESSED AN OPINION IS THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS STILL INSUPE OF THE RIGHT WAY FORWARD. WE SUGGEST THIS RE DEDRAFTED AS FOLLOWS:- **CHINESE MEMBERS HAVE NOT SO FAR EXPRESSED AN OPINION. WHEN THEY DO SO, IT MAY BE ASSUMED THAT IT WILL REFLECT THE VIEW THE CHINESE

GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO TAKE.'

(B) PARAGRAPH 34. THE THIRD SENTENCE SEEMS OVER-COMPREncei SUGGEST A REDRAFT AS FOLLOWS :

-

VE

''THE INTRODUCTION OF A DIRECTLY-ELECTED ELEMENT COULD BE SEEN IN HONG KONG AS A SYMBOL OF OUR DETERMINATION TO WORK FOR HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY FOR THE TERRITORY POST-1997 AND OF THE WILLINGNESS OF THE CHINESE TO ALLOW IT. IN PRACTICE, HOWEVER, SUCH AN ELEMENT !!! 1993 WOULD BY NO MEANS GUARANTEE A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY FOR HONG KONG POST-1997. THIS WOULD HAVE TO BE ACHIEVED BY A MUCH WIDES

VARIETY OF MEANS.

2. WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED YOUR TELNO 2407-5 ON THE GOVERNOR AND THE CHIEF EXECTUVE. WE SHALL COMMENT AS SOON AS WE DO.

EVANS

YYYY

PEHPAN 0945

LIMITED

HKD

MR GILLMORE

MR WILSON

Secret