TNAG-1445-FCO40-1929-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 43

GRS 750

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 18103OZ FCO

TELNO 4192

OF 180928Z DECEMBER 86

SECRET

TRA ONL

INFO DESKBY 190100-PÈKING

(542)

RECEIVED IN REGISTR

1 8 DEC 1986

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

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PA

Action Taken

547

See (561

MY TELNO 4172: 1987 REVIEW OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG

1. PARA 9 OF MY TUR SET OUT PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS ON PEKING'S

SUGGESTION THAT THE DRAFT GREEN PAPER SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE CHINESE

TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE DATE OF PUBLICATION. I HAVE NOW CONSIDERED

THIS FURTHER WITH MY OFFICIAL ADVISERS.

2. AS YOU KNOW, SIR EDWARD YOUDE'S AIM WAS TO DRAW THE CHINESE

INCREASINGLY INTO DISCUSSION, TO GET THEM TO FACE THE PROBLEM WITH

US, AND TO EDUCATE THEM ON THE PRACTICALITIES OF THE EVOLVING

SITUATION IN HONG KONG. IN THIS WAY HE HOPED THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE

TO FIND SOLUTIONS ACCEPTABLE TO BOTH SIDES. HOWEVER, PEKING'S

SUGGESTION THAT THE CHINESE SHOULD BE GIVEN A DRAFT TEXT OF THE

GREEN PAPER TO STUDY AND COMMENT ON GOES FURTHER THAN THIS, AND

ITS IMPLICATIONS NEED CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.

3. IN SO FAR AS CONSULTATION OR COMMUNICATION WITH THE CHINESE ON

THE GREEN PAPER IS CONCERNED, THE OPTIONS SEEM TO BE:

A) AS WITH THE 1984 GREEN AND WHITE PAPERS AND THE RECENT REDRESS

OF GRIEVANCES PAPER, THE FINAL TEXT IS PRESENTED TO THE CHINESE A

FEW WORKING DAYS BEFORE PUBLICATION:

B) PEKING'S SUGGESTION THAT THE GREEN PAPER BE PRESENTED AS A DRAFT

TO THE CHINESE TWO WEEKS BEFORE PUBLICATION:

C) WE GO THE WHOLE WAY AND INVITE THE CHINESE VIEWS ON THE DRAFT

WITH A VIEW TO CONSULTATION, IF NOT NEGOTIATION...

D) WE UTILISE FULLY ALL OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERIODIC VERBAL BRIEFINGS OF THE CHINESE, WHICH COULD INCLUDE ILLUSTRATIVE PIECES OF OUR THINKING TOWARDS THE DRAFT GREEN PAPER: AND TO GIVE THE

CHINESE THE FINAL DOCUMENT SAY SEVEN WORKING DAYS BEFORE PUBLICATION.

4. WE AGREE THAT OPTION (A) IS UNLIKELY TO BE POSSIBLE ALTHOUGH IT HAS THE ADDED ADVANTAGE THAT IT WOULD DENY THE CHINESE THE CHANCE OF ARGUING THAT, HAVING BEEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE DRAFT GREEN PAPER, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO THE SAME IN RESPECT OF THE DRAFT WHITE PAPER, WHICH SEEMS TO US TO BE A MORE DIFFICULT PROBLEM.

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