TNAG-1443-FCO40-1927-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 217

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series of short papers which have helped to guide discussion.

During the State Visit to China the Foreign and Commonwealth

Secretary also explained to his counterpart that we were giving

thought to the question of the Chief Executive: that we should avoid

a Chief Executive (designate) waiting in the wings; and that we

would soon provide the Chinese with our detailed thoughts on this

issue.

19. It is proposed that a further short paper should be prepared for transmission to the Chinese, introducing the concept of the

creation of a government post for the Chief Executive (Designate) in advance of 1997. This would be passed to the Chinese Foreign

Minister under cover of a personal message from the Foreign and

Commonwealth Secretary. There will be opportunities for informal

discussion of the paper when the British team for the Sino- British

Joint Liaison Group (JLG) visits Peking for a meeting of the Group

in late November (although it is not intended that this should be

discussed in the JLG) and when the Governor of Hong Kong goes to Peking on other business in early December.

Recommendation

20.

It is recommended that Ministers:

(i) agree in principle that our policy should be to create

in the early 1990s a post of Deputy Governor which would be

filled by the Chief Executive (Designate) in advance of 1997:

(ii) agree that a paper should be passed to the Chinese Foreign Minister introducing the concept in general terms:

(iii) note the consequential issues discussed in the Annex to this paper.

Ministers will be consulted further on these in

the light of the Chinese reaction.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

October 1986

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