TNAG-1596-FCO40-2181-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 244

SECRET

63421

SIDES IN THE LATTER YEARS OF THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD.

AT THE VERY LEAST WE FEEL WE NEED TO INCLUDE A REFERENCE TO

THE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS OF CONVERGENCE AND AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

THAT THEY WILL HAVE TO BE DISCUSSED IN DUE COURSE:

B) WE FEEL THERE IS SOME INCONSISTENCY IN THE TREATMENT OF THE

GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE. AT SOME POINTS IN THE PAPERS IT IS

PUT FORWARD RATHER TENTATIVELY AS A CONCEPT WHICH MIGHT NOT

GAIN THE SUPPORT OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE. AT OTHER POINTS IT

IS THE NECESSARY BASIS FOR SPECIFIC PROPOSALS WHICH WE PUT

FORWARD (FOR EXAMPLE IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMPOSITION OF

THE LEGISLATURE):

C) THERE SEEMS TO BE A PARTICULAR PROBLEM ABOUT PAPER 3. THIS

SETS OUT WITH THE MINIMUM OF SUPPORTING ARGUMENT

A PREFERRED MODEL FOR THE COMPOSITION OF THE

LEGISLATURE, INCLUDING DIRECTLY ELECTED ELEMENT. NO

REFERENCE IS MADE TO THE PRESENT CONSULTATION OF THE HONG KONG

PEOPLE, ON WHICH WE CLAIM TO THE CHINESE TO BE KEEPING AN

ENTIRELY OPEN MIND. IF CAREFUL QUALIFICATIONS ARE NOT

WRITTEN INTO THE PAPER THIS CAN ONLY REINFORCE CHINESE

SUSPICISIONS THAT WE ARE HELL-BENT ON INTRODUCING DIRECT

ELECTIONS AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE

OUTCOME OF THE PRESENT REVIEW.

2. WE LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING THE OUTCOME OF THE PRELIMINARY

EXCO DISCUSSION TOMORROW. NO DOUBT YOU WILL EXPLAIN CAREFULLY

THE BASIS ON WHICH IT IS HELD AND THE PRELIMINARY STATUS OF THE

COMMENTS SET OUT ABOVE. IT IS PROBABLY BEST IF WE AWAIT YOUR

REPORT OF EXCO'S VIEWS BEFORE WE SENT OFF OUR TELEGRAMS

CONTAINING OUR OWN DETAILED COMMENTS.

3.

THEREAFTER WE AGREE THAT WE SHOULD TRY TO MAINTAIN THE

TIMETABLE ALONG THE GENERAL LINES OF PARA 4 AND YOUR TELNO 2486.

HOWE

OCMIAN 3421

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED

LIMITED

COPIES TO:

HD/HKD

HD/FED

RESEARCH DEPT.(FE)

DEP/HD PUSD

PS/LORD GLENARTHUR

PS/MR EGGAR

MR MCLAREN

MR GILLMORE

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Secret

MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS

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