TNAG-1596-FCO40-2181-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 46

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FM FCO

TO PRIORITY HONG KONG

TELNO 2229

OF 2009007 AUGUST 87

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

531

YOUR TELNO 3111: STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT: LONGER TERM ISSUES:

GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE.

1.

PARAS 1 AND 2 OF TUR NOTED WITH THANKS. WE AGREE THAT

ONCE WE KNOW THE OUTCOME OF YOUR SEPTEMBER VISIT WE SHOULD

RE-EXAMINE YOUR DRAFT PAPER MORE CLOSELY. IN DOING SO WE SHALL

WISH TO ENSURE THAT WHATEVER ARRANGEMENTS WE EVENTUALLY SUGGEST TO

THE CHINESE ARE AS SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD AS POSSIBLE.

2.

WE HAVE ONLY ONE DETAILED COMMENT TO OFFER AT

THIS

THIS STAGE, ARISING FROM PARA 7(B) OF YOUR TELNO 3014. AS YOU

WILL RECALL WE HAVE DOUBTS (PARA 2(A) OF OUR TELNO 1963) ABOUT

YOUR PREFERENCE FOR INCLUDING OFFICIALS IN THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S

SINGLE LIST OF NOMINEES FOR ELECTION TO THE LEGISLATURE.

LAYS US OPEN TO THE RISK THAT NONE OF THE KEY OFFICIALS WOULD ULTI-

MATELY BE ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE. SUCH AN OUTCOME WOULD PLAINLY

HAVE SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE CONDUCT OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS

AND FOR THE GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO DEFEND ITS POLICIES IN THE

LEGISLATURE.

3.

WE BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD AID TO DEVISE A

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