TNAG-1443-FCO40-1927-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 62

17.

| CONFIDENTIAL

the Executive Council

is any greater

than

There is no evidence that public interest in changes to the

composition of

in 1984.

If anything, there seems to be a greater recognition of the need to maintain a strong executive capable of providing firm leadership and

All of WHICH efficient administration.

*

The Problem of Compatibility

As I which affects, IF AND TANG

INST

DIRECT

mything,

18.

contain

a

number

the Question of Hong Kong and its provisions general

of

the about

Those most

The Joint Declaration on

first Annex structure and operation of the future SAR government. relevant to the present paper are that the SAR'S legislature will be (The composed of local inhabitants and constituted by elections. form of election is not stated.) The Joint Declaration also provides that the policies which it states will be stipulated in the Basic

Law of the Hong Kong SAR.

19.

a

The drafting of the Basic Law speaking this is

established

is

now

under way.

Government.

Formally

They have

(including Hong

matter for the Chinese

Basic Law Drafting

Committee (BLDC) a

Kong members representing a broad spectrum of

spectrum of views) which has in turn created sub-groups to study certain aspects of the draft law.

The Chinese have

Committee also set up

Basic a

Law Consultative

(BLCC) in Hong Kong to reflect Hong Kong opinion to the BLDC.

20.

a

If we

to achieve are

transfer of government in

us to do, it is clear that the Joint Declaration commits

the between must be compatibility (or "convergence")

smooth

as it

1997, as

there

this is

described in

government structure

continues to evolve up to 1997 and the government structure for the Hong Kong SAR as this the Basic Law. If convergence cannot be achieved there will be a disruptive break in 1997 and/or open conflict between

conflict between the British and Chinese governments before 1997, with potentially disastrous

results for the stability of Hong Kong.

21.

The

general

problem

is

compounded

by

particular

complications of timing over the next two years. The review to be conducted by the Hong Kong Government during 1987 will address the further development of representative government.

|_ CONFIDENTIAL

We

are committed