TNAG-1478-FCO40-2010-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1986 — Page 31

QUESTION: THE QUESTION WAS, HAS THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT MADE IT OLEAR TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT THAT THEY DISAPPROVE OF DIRECT ELECTIONS.

SIR GEOFFREY: IT'S NOT FOR ME TO COMMENT ON THE VIEWS OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND IT WOULD NOT BE RIGHT TO DRAW THE CONCLUSION IMPLIED IN YOUR QUESTION.

REPORTER: (QUESTION UNCLEAR>

SIR GEOFFREY: I'VE SAID IT WOULD NOT BE RIGHT FOR ANYONE TO DRAW THE CONCLUSIONS IMPLIED IN THE QUESTION. WE SHALL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE THE OUTCOME OF THE REVIEW AND THE DECISIONS TAKEN AT THAT TIME IN LIGHT OF THE PRINCIPLES I'VE ENUNCIATED. QUESTION: THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT CAN VETO DIRECT ELECTIONS THROUGH THE BASIC LAW. HAS THE UK GOVERNMENT GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO VETO DIRECT ELECTIONS EVEN THOUGH THE HONG KONG PEOPLE MAY SAY THEY WANT THEM?

SIR GEOFFREY: THERE ARE TWO PROCESSES TAKING PLACE CURRENTLY ONE THE CONDUCT OF THE 1987 REVIEW, THE OTHER THE PREPARATION WITHIN THE AMBIT OF THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE OF THE BASIC LAW. THAT INCIDENTALLY, OF COURSE IS CONCERNED WITH A RATHER LONGER TIME SCALE BECAUSE THE BASIC LAW COMES INTO EFFECT IN 1997. IN BOTH THOSE PROCESSES, AS I'VE SAID SEVERAL TIMES. IT IS OBVIOUSLY RIGHT AND SENSIBLE FOR HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO BE ALIVE TO THE CONCERNS AND VIEWS OF EACH OTHER EQUALLY SENSIBLE FOR THEM TO BE ALIVE TO THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

QUESTION: BUT HAVE YOU GOT THE POWER OF VETO.

SIR GEOFFREY: IT'S NOT A MATTER WHERE A POWER OF VETO ARISES. THE PREPARATION OF THE BASIC LAW HAS ALWAYS BEEN FORESEEN AS A MATTER FOR THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON THE BASIS OF AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AND OBVIOUSLY WE ARE CONCERNED, RS ARE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, THAT THE PREPARATION OF THE BASIC LAW SHOULD

BE ALONG THE LINES FORESHADOWED BY THE JOINT DECLARATION.

**

QUESTION: FROM THE MEETINGS OF THE BASIC LAN DRAFTING COMMITTEE IN THE LAST YEAR, THE HONG-KONG PEOPLE HAVE LEARNED THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO INTERPRET AND TO AMEND THE BASIC LAW AND THE RIGHT TO APPOINT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE WHO WILL IN TURN NOMINATE PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS, AND THE HONG KONG PEOPLE HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAT ALTHOUGH THE FINAL COURT OF APPEAL WILL BE SET UP IN HONG KONG THE NPC WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO RE-INTERPRET THE COURT'S RULINGS AND THE RIGHT TO VET LEGISLATION ENACTED BY THE HONG KONG LEGISLATURE. UNDER THESE SITUATIONS DO YOU THINK THE HONG KONG S.A.R. GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY AS PROMISED IN THE JOINT DECLARATION.

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