TNAG-1455-FCO40-1978-Hong-Kong-Letters-Patent-amendments-1986 — Page 121

ZCZC

MILNAN 4818 OCMIAN 4818

CONFIDENTIAL

PP PEKIN

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

191230Z MAR

GRS 254

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELNO 553

OF 191230Z MARCH 86

INFO PRIORITY PEKING((-)

CONFIDENTIAL

24818

1

HKKe# 124-13 RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 2 5 MAR 1986

DESK OFFICER INDEX

PA

REGISTAY Action Taken

ADB 2013

A

YOUR TELNOS 701 AND 646 AND PEKING TELNO 342:

AMENDMENTS TO THE LETTERS PATENT ON COMPOSITION OF LEGISLATIVE

COUNCIL AND LAND

1.

MINISTERS HAVE BEEN CONSULTED ON THE PROPOSAL IN PARA 2

OF TUR, AND SEE NO OBJECTION TO SUCH A SCHEME IN PRINCIPLE. LEGAL ADVISERS ALSO SEE NO CONSTITUTIONAL DIFFICULTY IN WHAT IS

PROPOSED, BUT SUGGEST THAT IT MIGHT BE AS WELL TO ALLOW FOR AN

INCREASE OF MORE THAN TWO UPTO POSSIBLY FOUR OFFICIALS. A FORMULA

IN THE LETTERS PATENT OF 'NOT MORE THAN ELEVEN PERSONS' WOULD NOT

UPSET THE BALANCE OF THE LEGISLATURE, AND WE SEE MERIT IN

ALLOWING SOME ROOM FOR FUTURE EXPANSION: IT WOULD NOT BE

NECESSARY TO FILL ALL FOUR VACANCIES AT ONCE.

2.

WE SHARE YOUR AND PEKING'S ASSESSMENTS OF THE LIKELY

CHINESE REACTION. HOWEVER, WE WOULD WISH TO EXPLAIN THE REASONS

FOR CHANGE IN ADVANCE OF ANY PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT IN HONG KONG.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WILL NOW CONSULT WITH UNOFFICIALS IN MORE

DETAIL ON WHAT IS PROPOSED. GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD INFORM US OF

THE OUTCOME OF YOUR DISCUSSIONS, TO ENABLE US TO APPROACH THE

CHINESE AT AN EARLY STAGE.

1

CONFIDENTIAL