TNAG-1445-FCO40-1929-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 11

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WOULD HAVE LONGER TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THE ISSUES CONNECTED WITH

THE REVIEW BEFORE IT GOT UNDER WAY. IT WOULD ALSO BE POSSIBLE TO

USE THIS CONSIDERATION AS A VERY RESPECTABLE ARGUMENT TO DEFLECT

ANY CRITICISM.IN FACT A LIMITED DELAY IN THE WHOLE EXERCISE, WHICH

MAINTAINED THE SAME PERIOD FOR THE CONSULTATION EXERCISE AS IS AT

PRESENT ENVISAGED, MIGHT WELL BE EASIER TO JUSTIFY THAN SIMPLY

PROLONGING THE CONSULTATION. PERIOD. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO RECEIVE

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS WHICH YOU MAY HAVE ON THIS, DESKBY 180900Z.

4. WE NOTE THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO HAVE A FAIR IDEA OF THE

CONTENTS OF THE BASIC LAW BY ABOUT THE END OF OCTOBER 1987. WE

WONDER IF THIS MIGHT NOT BE RATHER OPTIMISTIC WHERE THE

PROVISIONS ON GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE ARE CONCERNED. THE CHINESE

APPEAR READY TO ENVISAGE THAT THE PROVISIONS ON GOVERNMENT

STRUCTURE MIGHT STILL BE UNDER DISCUSSION AS LATE AS DECEMBER

1987. THEY HAVE NOT EVEN RULED OUT A SITUATION IN WHICH THE FIRST

DRAFT OF THE BASIC LAW, TO BE PUBLISHED IN 1988, WOULD STILL NOT

HAVE FIRM PROVISIONS IN THIS AREA: PRESUMABLY A RANGE OFOPTIONS

WOULD BE IDENTIFIED BUT NO MORE.

5. WE SHALL HAVE TO ADDRESS AT A SLIGHTLY LATER STAGE THE

QUESTION OF EXACTLY HOW THE CONTENTS OF THE GREEN PAPER SHOULD BE

EXPLAINED TO THE CHINESE. WE NOTE THE POINTS MADE IN TURS.

HOWE

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PS/MR RENTON

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MR GILLMORE

MR

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