TNAG-1444-FCO40-1928-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 37

IB

CONFIDENTIAL

BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY DURING THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD

IS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HK FOR THE

MAINTENANCE OF PROSPERITY AND STABILITY AND TO ENSURE A SMOOTH

CHANGEOVER IN 1997. THE HKG'S REVIEW ON POLITICAL SYSTEM SHOULD

ALSO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF MAINTAINING PROSPERITY AND STABILITY

AND A SMOOTH CHANGEOVER. TO AVOID TURBULENCE AND TO AVOID REPEATED

CHANGES, THE DEVELOPMENT OF HK'S POLITICAL SYSTEM DURING THE

TRANSITIONAL PERIOD SHOULD CONVERGE WITH THE BASIC LAW.

(B) THE DEVELOPMENT OF HK'S POLITICAL SYSTEM AND THE QUESTION OF

CONVERGENCE CAN BE DISCUSSED IN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP. THEY CAN

ALSO BE DISCUSSED AT THE FOREIGN MINISTERIAL LEVEL OR EVEN THE

HEAD OF GOVERNMENT LEVEL.

COMMENT

3. ALL THESE SEEM TO BE PART OF A COORDINATED PR CAMPAIGN TO CONVEY THE SAME MESSAGE.

Redacted under FOI Exemptions Sec 27(1)

YOUDE

YYYY

HMLNAN 4714

HONG KONG AGREEMENT:

RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

RESEARCH DEPT (FE)

DEP/HD/PUSD

PS/MR RENTON

MR GILLMORE

MR WILSON

-2- CONFIDENTIAL

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS