SECRET
Mr Hum, Hong Kong Department
/our objective
Hong Kong: Future Structure of Government
The Secretary of State has considered your submission of 17 July, and the attached papers. He has also seen Mr McLaren's minute
•
The Secretary of State does not think it practicable to clear papers of this length and complexity with the PM or OD (K) colleagues in the short time available before the summer break. He is not however sure that such clearance is needed, and will discuss this point at this week's meeting on Hong Kong.
are doing no more than perpetuate existing structures, then that should not be an approach which needs endorsement in advance by the Prime Minister.
The Secretary of State notes however one significant new point, the Grand Electoral College. He has asked for more details of it. How and when would it be created? Who creates it, and who would the members be? Is it some kind of self- perpetuating non-elected politburo? Does it invalidate/that the Chief Clerk and the legislature should be elected? would welcome further advice on these aspects quickly,
not least because this point seems to him of sufficient importance perhaps to justify consulting Ministerial colleagues about it in advance.
He
20 July 1987
CC:
PS/Lord Glenarthur
Mr McLaren
Mr Fifoot, Dep Legal Adviser Mr Masefield, FED
SECRET
Room E
(R N Culshaw)
Page 105Page 106
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