TNAG-1443-FCO40-1927-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 215

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If we

bound by the terms of the Joint Declaration to consult. sought to go ahead without consultation with the Chinese the

objective of a smooth transition, brought about in cooperation with

China, could not be achieved.

14. If the Chief Executive (Designate) whom we would have appointea

for the period immediately before 1997 is to move into ortice when

the Hong Kong SAR comes into being, then the candidate must be one

acceptable to both the British and Chinese Governments and appointed

after consultation between them. A candidate unacceptable to China

would be replaced on 1 July 1997: the object of the exercise would

not have been attained.

15 But it would be incorrect to conclude that this consultation

would concede to China a dangerous degree of influence over Hong

Kong before 1997. HMG would retain full responsibility for the

administration of Hong Kong up to 30 June 1997, as the Joint Declaration provides. We would retain control over the process by

which the Chief Executive (Designate) was appointed. The delegation

or devolution of powers to him could be effected gradually. They

Would, in the last resort, be resumed if the need arose, either

because of his inadequacy or because of external factors. There

could be no question of HMG agreeing to appoint a Chief Executive

(Designate) favoured by the Chinese if he was unacceptable to ourselves or to the people of Hong Kong. In fact we would acquire

enhanced influence over the course of events in the Hong Kong SAR

after 1997 because the creation of the office of Chief Executive and

the nomination of the incumbent would have been a matter for

consultation between the Chinese and ourselves.

Consequential Issues

16. 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

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