TNAG-1478-FCO40-2010-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1986 — Page 17

6. ON DAYA DAY, MEMBERS EXPLAINED THAT SOME OF THE OPPONENTS OF THE PROJECT HAD CITED THE EXPERIENCE IN ARGUING FOR DIRECT ELECTIONS. THEY HAD CLAIMED THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD IGNORED THE POPULAR WILL WHICH WAS OPPOSED TO CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLANT. HAD THERE BEEN A DIRECTLY ELECTED LEGISLATURE, IT WOULD HAVE FORCED THE HKG TO WITHDRAW FROM THE PROJECT. IN TURN, THEY HAD CLAIMED, CHINA WOULD THEN HAVE HAD TO ABANDON DAYA BAY.

7.

AS THE SECRETARY OF STATE MOVED INDEPENDENTLY AMONG GROUPS OF MEMBERS AT DRINKS BEFORE THE OMELCO DINNER WE HAVE NO FIRST HAND ACCOUNT OF WHAT WAS SAID TO HIM. HOWEVER WE HAVE NO REASON TO DOUBT THE ACCURACY OF A REPORT IN THE SCMP FOR 12 OCTOBER WHICH QUOTED MR MARTIN LEE AS SAYING THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAD SAID THAT THE 1987 POLITICAL REVIEW AND THE BASIC LAW SHOULD NOT

BE MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE BUT INTER-RELATED EXERCISES BECAUSE LIAISON

AND CONVERGENCE WERE IMPORTANT TO ENSURING THE SUCCESS OF FURTHER

DEVELOPMENTS IN REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. IN CONDUCTING THE

REVIEW THE HKG SHOULD TAKE NOTE OF THE BL DRAFTING PROCESS. FOR

ITS PART THE BLDC WOULD AWAIT THE OUTCOME OF THE REVIEW WITH

INTEREST. A DECISION ON DIRECT ELECTIONS WOULD DEPEND ON THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED FOLLOWING THE ISSUE OF THE GREEN PAPER.

3.

MARTIN LEE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT HE HAD TOLD THE SECRETARY

OF STATE THAT SOME LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS WERE CONCERNED THAT, DESPITE STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT, DIRECT ELECTIONS MIGHT NOT BE INTRODUCED IN 1988 BECAUSE OF THE OBJECTIONS OF SOME

PEOPLE.

9.

INFLUENTIAL**

WE WILL CHECK THE ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS OF THIS REPORT WITH GALSWORTHY ON SUNDAY AND ADVISE IF THERE IS ANYTHING FURTHER

TO ADD.

YOUDE

HMLNAN 3423

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

COPIES TO:

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

RESEARCH DEPT (FE)

DEP/HD/PUSD

PS/MR RENTON

MR GILLMORE

MR WILSON

-3- SECRET

}