TNAG-1455-FCO40-1978-Hong-Kong-Letters-Patent-amendments-1986 — Page 50

GRS 150

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO **MMEDNATE FCO

TELNO 1979

OF 25100OZ JUNE 86

CONFIDENTIAL

UNFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

(41)

(42

YOUR TELNO 1172 AND OUR TELNO 1912 : AMENDMENTS TO LETTERS PATENT

1 HAVE AGAIN SPOKEN TO MISS DUNN: (AND ALSO TO SOME UNOFFICIALS) MISS DUNN'S ADVICE IS THAT, IN THE VIEW OF SOME UNOFFBORALS PT WOULD BE SEEN AS A RETROGRADE STEP TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND THAT 4 CONSEQUENCE THERE WOULD BE PUBLIC RELATIONS DIFFICULTIES FOR THE UNOFFICIALS *IN BEING SEEN TO PROPOSE OR ENDORSE SUCH A PROPOSAL AT THE PRESENT

MOMENT. ACCEPT HER ADVICE.

2.

## DO NOT THEREFORE INTEND TO PROPOSE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF OFFICIAL MEMBERS NOW. INSTEAD THE ISSUE WILL COME FORWARD FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE 1987 REVIEW. PLEASE THEREFORE DO NOT PROCEED - WITH THE RELEVANT PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE LETTERS PATENT.

3. WE SHALL ALSO CONSIDER POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE REMEDIES FOR THE PROBLEMS PRESENTED BY OFFICIAL MEMBERS HAVING TO CONDUCT COUNCIL BUSINESS ON SUBJECTS FOR WHICH THEY ARE NOT DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE.

YOUDE

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

RESEARCH DEPT (FE)

DEP/HD/PUSD

PS/MR RENTON

SIRIM MARDING

MR WILSON

HKK 011/18

12 AUC 1986

AAB118!

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

CONFIDENTIAL