TNAG-1596-FCO40-2181-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 292

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247

OCMIAN 3125

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OO HOKON

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

081030Z MAY

GRS 300

Hub 01117

1 1 MAY 1987

!

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FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 1268

OF 061030 MAY 87

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

!

53125 1

-

MIPT: STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT, SELECTION OF PERSONNEL

1.

THIS IS THE AREA (POTENTIALLY AFFECTING ALL 3 OTHERS) ON

WHICH THE CHINESE HAVE MADE THE MOST SPECIFIC PROPOSALS. WE

HAVE TO RESPOND SOONER OR LATER: THIS MIGHT BE ORALLY IN A

SUBSEQUENT MINISTERIAL CONTACT, OR CONCEIVABLY ON PAPER. OUR

INITIAL THINKING IS THAT AT THIS STAGE WE SHOULD MAKE AN ORAL

RESPONSE.

2. WE SUGGEST THAT FOR THE PRESENT IT SHOULD BE LIMITED TO THE

FOLLOWING GENERAL PRINCIPLES:

II)

I) WE ACCEPT IN PRINCIPLE THAT IT WOULD ASSIST CONTINUITY AND

A SMOOTH TRANSITION FOR THE BRITISH AND CHINESE SIDES TO BE

IN CONTACT OVER CERTAIN HIGH-LEVEL APPOINTMENTS:

BUT WE BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE APPROPRIATE ONLY IN THE LAST

YEARS OF THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD UP TO 1997. WE THINK IT

IS MOST IMPORTANT, BOTH AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE AND IN

TERMS OF LOCAL PERCEPTION, THAT THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG

GOVERNMENTS SHOULD FULLY EXERCISE, AND BE SEEN TO EXERCISE,

THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG

UP TO 3U JUNE 1997. ANY PERCEPTION OF JOINT ADMINISTRATION

WOULD BE MOST DAMAGING TO CONFIDENCE:

III)

WE SUGGEST THEREFORE THAT IT WOULD BE PREMATURE TO DISCUSS

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