TNAG-1445-FCO40-1929-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 39

A

4.

SECRET

Redacted under FOI Exemption S 27 (1);

The concept of a survey

(14)

office with limited functions is I

think generally acceptable. It is rightly less than a full-blown

assessment office, which would have raised the review to the same

status as the 1984 exercise on the acceptability of the Joint

Declaration. On the other hand

I think we must accept the judgement

Government

Ø f the Hong Kong inadequate if the

machinery.

that it would have been considered

survey had been conducted by existing government

The carefully limited terms of reference also look

right. There are however a number of minor presentational points

which we should comment upon, and these are covered in the draft

telegram.

5.

The main are a of uncertainty at this stage is the question of

advance notice to the Chinese. ExCo are firmly of the view that the

Chinese should not be consulted on

this proposal. Hong Kong

envisage our giving the Chinese about three days' warning of the

announcement that the survey office is to be set up and monitors

appointed. Peking concur.

6.

This may look about right in isolation, but begs the wider

on the 1987 review and the

issue of discussion with the Chinese

content of the Hong Kong Green Paper.

can best handle this.

It is not yet clear how we

Probably

our

to best approach will be

issues involved So

consultation оп texts can to some extent be

ensure

that we are

in

close

that the question of

If we finessed.

can

dialogue with them on the

achieve that, it would be

natural and appropriate to tell the

for the survey

stage. But we

Chinese at a suitable stage what we have in mind

office. We cannot fully assess our options at this

shall need to do so comprehensively early next year, when questions relating to the next Governor have been clarified.

I think this and

elegram 2. I would would

the draft outward

the repat lover see letting the Chiene

about the assesment

assesment Mice

18 December 1986/

of the necessary dialogue

العار

Conten ст

with mait

2 agra

CO Hum

Dr. Wilson's comments

Sour the Hong Kong Department

R

comments &

while 1987 Survey. I do not think that simply giving

dage Notice i

deze

SECRET

Sensible proposition. VRT 18/12