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(in particular over direct elections to the Legislative Council) in advance of the promulgation of the Basic Law in 1990. They fear that the impression could be given that important provisions in the
Basic Law had been imposed on them by our pre-emptive action through the review. They want to avoid a choice between making stipulations in the Basic Law which are in actual or potential conflict with the prevailing constitutional structure in Hong Kong and incorporating
stipulations which they do not desire. On at least one occasion they have said explicitly that, if faced with such a choice, they
would go for the former option. On the substance, they fear
instability and the divisive effects of party politics.
25.
are
not
The Chinese have long had strong misgivings about direct elections (although, as noted below, they maintain to us
us that they
opposed to them in principle). Their concern about the
possible effects of
of direct elections appears to have grown in the past few months, probably as a result of divisions and confrontation in the Legislative Council over construction of the Daya Bay nuclear plant in Guangdong province of China, near Hong Kong. Hong Kong business leaders in contact with the Chinese tend to oppose direct
elections and to tell them so. Moreover, the sub-committee of the Basic Law Drafting Committee drafting the relevant section of the Basic Law at present has a majority of Hong Kong members against
direct elections. (Chinese members do not formally express an
reflect the view of the Chinese
opinion, but
may
be assumed to
Government.)
Exchanges with the Chinese
24.
In order to overcome this mistrust and lessen the risk of
conflict over the 1987 review and the Basic Law we have sought since May 1986 to intensify contacts with the Chinese and to establish an
informal dialogue on the issues involved. There have been three discussions at Foreign Minister level and detailed exchanges between officials some of which have involved the Governor of Hong Kong.
27.
On
issues general drafting of the Basic Law
the
connected with "convergence" and
we have managed to put across our ideas
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