TNAG-1443-FCO40-1927-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 277

Redacted under FOI Exemption S 27(1)

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COULD LEAD TO INSTABILITY AND THE DIVISIVE EFFECTS OF PARTY POLITICS.

EXCHANGES WITH THE CHINESE

24.

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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 ESTABLISH AN INFORMAL DIALOGUE ON THE ISSUES INVOLVED. THERE

HAVE BEEN THREE DISCUSSIONS AT FOREIGN MINISTER LEVEL AND

DETAILED EXCHANGES BETWEEN OFFICIALS.

25.

ON GENERAL ISSUES CONNECTED WITH QUOTE CONVERGENCE UNQUOTE AND THE DRAFTING OF THE BASIC LAW WE HAVE MANAGED TO PUT ACROSS OUR IDEAS BETTER THAN WE HAD ANTICIPATED. WE HAVE PASSED TO THE CHINESE A SERIES OF PAPERS ON VARIOUS ASPECTS: THEY HAVE

ACCEPTED AND EVEN WELCOMED OUR INVOLVEMENT. WE HOPE THIS WILL

HELP FASHION A BASIC LAW ACCEPTABLE AND APPROPRIATE TO HONG KONG.

26.

WE HAVE MADE LESS HEADWAY OVER THE 1987 REVIEW.

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27.

AND WE HAVE

SOUGHT TO REASSURE HONG KONG OPINION THAT THE 1987 REVIEW WILL BE

A GENUINE AND OPEN ONE, WHICH WE ARE APPROACHING WITHOUT

PRECONCEIVED IDEAS.

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CONFIDENTIAL