TNAG-1445-FCO40-1929-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 52

Redacted under FOI Exemption S 27 (1)

5. HOWEVER, REVERTING TO PARAGRAPHS 2 AND 3 ABOVE, SOME FLEXI- BILITY TOWARDS THE END OF THE TIMETABLE IS AVAILABLE. THE GREEN PAPER SHOULD BE PUBLISHED IN APRIL/MAY BUT THE CONSULTATION PERIOD CAN BE EXTENDED TO THE END OF SEPTEMBER, WE THEN TAKE THE SURVEY OFFICE REPORT THROUGH EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND YOURSELVES AND PUBLISH IT FOR DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN MID-NOVEMBER. TAKING FULL ACCOUNT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE, WHICH IS LIKELY TO BE THE MOST CRITICAL STAGE IN THE PROCESS IN TERMS OF A FIRM STEER TO THE ADMINISTRATION, THE WHITE PAPER COULD BE PUBLISHED IN MID- JANUARY OR EVEN THE END OF JANUARY 1988. WE WOULD THEN HAVE A CLEAR VIEW OF THE PROGRESS OF THE BLDC, AND HAVE MORE TIME FOR DISCUSSION WITH THE CHINESE IF THIS IS DEEMED NECESSARY PRIOR TO THE PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER. IT WOULD BE TIGHT, BUT IT WOULD STILL BE POSSIBLE TO GET ANY REQUIRED LEGISLATION AND AMEND- MENTS TO THE LETTERS PATENT COMPLETED, AND ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR ELECTORAL PROCESSES AND FOR CANDIDATES TO PREPARE THEMSELVES, WITHOUT EXTENDING THE LIFE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

6.

I HAVE NOT DETAILED THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF YOUR OPTIONS, FOR I AM SURE THE GENERAL POLITICAL REACTION WITHIN HONG KONG, THE CONTINUED CONFIDENCE OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WITHIN AND OUTSIDE HONG KONG, AND THE NEED TO CONTINUE TO SHOW THAT GOVERNMENT BUSINESS CONTINUES AS USUAL FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF SIR EDWARD YOUDE DO NOT ALLOW US ANY OTHER REALISTIC COURSE THAN THAT OURLINED IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH.

8.

THE HKG MUST BE IN A POSITION TO ADVISE HMG FROM TIME TO TIME WHAT PUBLIC REACTION IS OR MAY BE TO THE ISSUES WHICH THE GREEN PAPER WILL COVER. DURING THE PREPARATION OF THE GREEN PAPER IT WILL BE ESSENTIAL FOR THE HKG TO BE ALERT TO PUBLIC OPINION AS IT CHANGES. THE CHINESE PRESUMABLY ALSO ARE KEEPING IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH PUBLIC OPINION IN HONG KONG, BOTH AS REFLECTED IN THE MEDIA AND THROUGH THEIR MANY OTHER CONTACTS.

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