TNAG-1445-FCO40-1929-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 9

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12 wilson Но нко

YOUR TELNO 2900: POSSIBLE POSTPONEMENT OF THE 1987 REVIEW

1. I DO NOT THINK THAT DELAYING THE PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER

TO THE END OF JANUARY 1988 WOULD BE SEEN IN HONG KONG AS AN

EXTENSION OF THE PRESENT TIMETABLE. ANY PUBLIC MENTION OF THE TIMING

OF THE WHITE PAPER HAS BEEN IN RELATIVELY BROAD TERMS SUCH AS

**AROUND THE END OF 1987''. I CONSIDER THEREFORE THAT WE COULD LIVE

WITH ANY CRITICISM ON THIS POINT.

2. AS REGARDS THE POSSIBILITY OF DELAYING PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN

PAPER UNTIL JUNE 1987, WE ARE ON PUBLIC RECORD AS SAYING FIRMLY AND REPEATEDLY THAT IT WOULD BE ISSUED IN APRIL OR MAY. I AM NOT SURE THAT IT WOULD BE A CONVINCING ARGUMENT NOW REPEAT NOW THAT THE NEW GOVERNOR WOULD BE HELPED BY HAVING ONE ADDITIONAL MONTH TO GET TO

GRIPS WITH THE ISSUES. WE DO NOT KNOW WHO THE NEW GOVERNOR WILL BE, NOR WHEN HE WILL ARRIVE. EVEN IF HE IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH HONG KONG, THE CONSULTATION PERIOD ITSELF WILL BE LENGTHY AND SUBSEQUENT PROCESSES EXTENSIVE. I SEE NO OBJECTION TO OUR PRESENT TARGET OF EARLY APRIL BEING AMENDED TO EARLY MAY.

3. I TAKE YOUR POINT THAT IT MAY BE OPTIMISTIC TO THINK THAT WE SHALL HAVE A FAIR IDEA OF THE CONTENTS OF THE BASIC LAW BY AROUND THE END OF OCTOBER 1987. BUT THIS IS OUR PRESENT ASSESSMENT, OBTA- INED FROM THOSE WHO ARE CLOSELY INVOLVED. ACCORDING TO THE TIMETABLE GIVEN BY LI HOU TO SIR E YOUDE, THE REPORT OF THE BLDC SUB-GROUP ON THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE SHOULD BE DISCUSSED BY THE BLDC AT ITS AUGUST MEETING. THERE IS NO DOUBT, HOWEVER, THAT THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING PROCESS IS A HIGHLY CONFUSED AND CONFUSING OPERATION AND THAT THE SCHEDULE MAY CHANGE AGAIN BEFORE THEN.

AKERS-JONES

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