TNAG-1468-FCO40-1997-Visits-by-members-of-the-Office-of-the-Unofficial-Members-of-1986 — Page 54

GRS 220

CONFIDENT-WAL

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 08110OZ FCO

TELNO 2913

OF 081018Z SEPTEMBER 86

CONFIDENTIAL

INFO DESKBY 090100Z PEKING

10

EXCO VNS HT TO LONDON: THE BASIC LAW AND THE 1987 REVIEW

1. WHEN 1 AND EXCO RETURN FROM LONDON AT THE END OF THIS WEEK WE ARE BOUND TO BE ASKED BY THE PRESS ABOUT OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH MINISTERS ON THE 1987 REVIEW, THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT AND ALL THAT. THERE WILL PROBABLY BE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE TALKS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER TO WHICH WE SHALL STICK FAITHFULLY: BUT IT WILL GINE TOO GREAT AN IMPRESSION OF MOMENT FOUS DECISIONS BEING TAKEN IN CONFIDENCE IF WE ARE NOT A LITTLE MORE FORTHCOMING ABOUT DISCUSSIONS

WPTH OTHER MINISTERS.

2. AS REGARDS THE 1987 REVIEW WE CAN PRESUMABLY SAY THAT WE EXPLAINED TO MINISTERS THE STATE OF OPINION IN HONG KONG ON THE ISSUES WHICH ENT WILL COVER, AND CONFIRM THAT THESE WILL INCLUDE, AS INDICATED IN THE WHITE PAPER, THE QUESTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS AND THE POSITION OF THE GOVERNOR AS PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (AS YOU KNOW, THE LATTER ISSUE HAS BEEN RAHSED AGAIN MY MR MARTEN LEE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CONTROVERSY ON DAYA BAXA SENE

CONFIDENTIAL

HKK OOGS

STRY

15 SEP 1986

Y

Ken

ABIS

(89