TNAG-1443-FCO40-1927-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 145

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IN REGISTRY

31 OCT 1986

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

REGISTRY Action Taken

MY TWO IPTS: PAPERS FOR OD(K)

FOLLOWING IS REMAINDER OF TEXT OF DRAFT PAPER ON THE GOVERNOR AND

CHIEF EXECUTIVE.

BEGINS

17.

THE POWERS DELEGATED OR DEVOLVED TO THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

(DESIGNATE) COULD BE RESUMED IF THE NEED AROSE, EITHER BECAUSE OF

HIS INADEQUACY OR BECAUSE OF EXTERNAL FACTORS (ALTHOUGH WE SHOULD

NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POLITICAL DIFFICULTY OF DOING SO). THE AIM

WOULD HOWEVER BE TO DEVOLVE TO HIM BY 1997 ALL THE POWERS TO BE

EXERCISED BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AFTER 1997, SO AS TO LESSEN THE

LIKELIHOOD THAT THE CHINESE MIGHT BE TEMPTED, EVEN AGAINST THE

PROVISIONS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, TO RETAIN SUCH POWERS FOR

THEMSELVES AFTER THE CHANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY.

CONSEQUENTIAL ISSUES

18.

A NUMBER OF CONSEQUENTIAL ISSUES ARE EXAMINED IN THE

ANNEX TO THIS PAPER. MINISTERS WILL WISH TO NOTE THE

IMPLICATIONS OF WHAT IS PROPOSED: BUT THESE DO NOT REQUIRE

MINISTERIAL DECISION AT THIS STAGE. SUCH DECISIONS COULD ONLY BE

TAKEN ONCE THE GENERAL CONCEPT HAS BEEN EXPLAINED TO THE CHINESE

AND THEY HAVE BEEN DRAWN INTO DISCUSSION OF THEIR OWN INTENTIONS

FOR THE PERIOD IMMEDIATELY AFTER 1997.

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