GRS 1200
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
CONFIDENTIAL
TO DESKBY 17140OZ FCO
TELNO 191
OF 171015Z JANUARY 86
INFO DESK BY 180100Z PEKING
HRR 027/4
REC.
DI
IDEX
20 JAN 1986
COPY
.Ken
AJB 20
HONG KONG FUTURE : RESTRICTED : VISHT OF LU PING.
WE HAVE BEEN EXPLOITING LU PING'S WISHT TO TRY TO ESTABLISH A MORE SUBSTANTIVE INFORMAL DIALOGUE, FOLLOWING THE VISIT OF JA PENGFEI. LU HAS ACCEPTED A NUMBER OF SOCIAL ENGAGEMENTS WITH SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND SHOWN HIMSELF WILLING TO EXCHANGE IDEAS ON THE SITUATION IN HONG KONG AND ON ITS POLITICAL SYSTEM. HE HAS NOT, HOWEVER, SHOWN HIS HAND SIGNIFICANTLY ON THE CONTENTS OF
THE BASIC LAW.
2. LU PING, WITH ESCOR OF LEGAL DRAFTSFMEN, CALLED FOR TEA AT GOVERNMENT HOUSES YESTERDAY. I BRIEFED THEM ON CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG, WITH STRESS ON THE UNDERLYING REASONS FOR ITS DYNAMISM. MY PRESENTATION, REPEATED A NUMBER OF POINTS (E.G. THE IMPORTANCE OF HONG KONG'S INTERNATIONAL CONNECTIONS, THE CHARACTEP OF ITS BUSINESS COMMUNITY, OUR INFRASTRUCTURE PLANS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LAW) HAD ALREADY MADE TO JI PENGFE. MY REMARKS WERE INTENDED RATHER FOR THE CHINESE LAWYERS, NOT ALL OF WHOM HAD VISITED HONG KONG BEFORE: AND WHO IN ANY CASE APPEARED SOMEWHAT BEMUSED. STRESSED THE NEED TO CONSULT WIDELY AND THE NEED TO INCLUDE THOSE WITH FIRST-HAND EXPER PENCE OF GOVERNMENT.
4. SUBSEQUENTLY THE CHIEF SECRETARY ENTERAINED LU (AND QIAO ZONGHUAH) TO DINNER AT VICTORIA HOUSE, OFFERING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A FRIENDLY AND RELAXED EXCHANGE. WHILE LU GAVE LITTLE INSIGHT INTO CHINESE PLANS FOR THE BASIC LAW, HIS MAIN CONCERNS EMERGED CLEAPLY AND A GOOD DEAL OF GROUND WAS COVERED AT DINNER.
FOLLOWING ARE MAIN POINTS:
(A) ACCOUNTABILITY. LU PING RAISED THIS (SEE MY TELNO 157).
HE CLAIMED TO HAVE BEEN QUIZZED ABOUT IT IN HONG KONG. WHAT WAS OUR DEFINATION? THE CS SAND THAT THIS WAS NOT A METTER OF A DICTIONARY DEFINITION BUT OF THE SYSTEM AS HT EXISTED IN HONG KONG. DIFFERENT PLACES HAD DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS. HERE WE HAD A SOUND TRIPARTITE STRUCTURE. A GOVERNOR, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. THE PUBLIC WERE USED TO IT. IT SHOULD BE MAINTAINED. ACCOUNTABILITY WAS A SAY OF SAYING THAT A GOOD SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES OPERATED BETWEEN ITS ELEMENTS. HOWE EXACTLY ONE FILLED THESE ELEMENTS WAS A MATTER FOR DISCUSSION. THE SYSTEM WAS EVOLVING, NOT STATIC. IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR LU PING TO SEE HOW THINGS ACTUALLY
WORKED IN HONG KONG.
CONFIDENTIAL
\CB)
10
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.