TNAG-1448-FCO40-1947-Executive-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-meet-1986 — Page 101

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which might affect stability and would certainly need very careful handling. We will need to keep all these points very

firmly in mind when we consider whether a directly elected

element should be introduced in 1988.

35.

In the meantime we must continue and intensify our

exchanges with the Chinese on all the issues connected with "convergence". We must emphasise why the 1987 Review must be seen to be genuine and open, with both the British and Chinese Governments keeping an open mind over the outcome. We must seek to create conditions of trust within which problems can

be discussed and solved.

36.

Until the state of opinion in Hong Kong crystallises, we cannot foresee precisely how these problems might be

tackled. But the closer our informal dialogue with the Chinese on all the issues connected with "convergence" and the

Basic Law, the better will be our chances of finding a way

forward which will at least reduce the dimensions of the

problems involved and present an outcome which will maintain confidence that the transition to 1997 can be negotiated

successfully.