TNAG-1597-FCO40-2182-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1987 — Page 110

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OF THE BASIC LAW DEALING WITH THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE WILL HAVE

BEEN FINALISED OR PUBLISHED EVEN IF PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE

PAPER IS DEFERRED UNTIL THE END OF 1988. MOREOVER DEPARTURE TO

THIS EXTENT FROM THE PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED TIMETABLE WOULD PROVOKE

VERY SERIOUS CRITICISM IN HONG KONG, AND ALMOST CERTAINLY ALSO IN

PARLIAMENT. WE WOULD BE ACCUSED OF GIVING IN TO PRESSURE FROM

THE CHINESE AND DELAYING THE REVIEW BECAUSE OF THEIR KNOWN

OBJECTIONS. IT IS THE VIEW OF THE ACTING GOVERNOR, IN THE LIGHT

OF INFORMAL CONSULTATION WITH EXCO, THAT SUCH A DELAY WOULD NOT

BE PUBLICLY ACCEPTABLE IN HONG KONG, AND THAT THE EFFECT ON

CONFIDENCE WOULD BE SERIOUS. HE IS CERTAIN THAT NEITHER EXCO NOR

LEGCO WOULD AGREE TO IT.

ENDS

REMAINDER OF TEXT FOLLOWS IN MY 3 IFTS.

HOWE

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HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED

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