TNAG-1597-FCO40-2182-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1987 — Page 162

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TO UNDERTAKEN WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE OUTCOME OF

THE DECEMBER 1987 BLDC PLENARY, AT WHICH THE RELEVANT BASIC LAW PROVISIONS MAY TAKE SPECIFIC FORM. WHILE IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE

BROAD DIRECTION WHICH THESE PROVISIONS WILL TAKE MAY BY THEN HAVE

BECOME CLEARER, THE PROSPECTS FOR A SIMULTANEOUS EMERGENCE OF CLEAR AND COMPATIBLE VIEWS IN THE BLDC AND THE REVIEW EXERCISE, PERMITTING AN OUTCOME IN WHICH NEITHER SIDE APPEARS TO PRE-EMPT

THE OTHER, HAVE DIMINISHED.

THE TIMING OF 1987 REVIEW

9.

IN THE FACE OF THE ABOVE PROBLEMS THE FOLLOWING BROAD

OPTIONS PRESENT THEMSELVES.

(A)

10.

RETAIN THE PRESENT TIMETABLE

IF THE PRESENT TIMETABLE IS MAINTAINED IT WILL

DEMONSTRATE CLEARLY, BOTH WITHIN HONG KONG AND TO OUTSIDE OBSERVERS, THAT HMG AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ARE FIRMLY IN CHARGE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG, THAT GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IS BEING CARRIED ON EFFECTIVELY DESPITE THE DEATH OF THE GOVERNOR, AND THAT THE BRITISH SIDE IS DEALING FIRMLY WITH KNOWN CHINESE MISGIVINGS ABOUT THE REVIEW. THE PROBLEMS OF TIMING REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH 8 HOWEVER WILL ARISE. THERE WILL BE THE

MAXIMUM RISK OF INCOMPATABILITY AND HENCE OF POTENTIAL

CONFRONTATION WITH THE CHINESE SIDE.

(B)

11.

POSTPONE THE REVIEW TO 1988

A SIGNIFICANT POSTPONEMENT OF THE REVIEW, PERHAPS BY A FULL YEAR, WOULD IN THEORY CONSIDERABLY IMPROVE THE CHANCES OF ACHIEVING COMPATIBILITY BETWEEN ITS OUTCOME AND THE FUTURE BASIC LAW. THE DEATH OF SIR EDWARD YOUDE AND THE NEED TO ALLOW TIME

FOR THE NEW GOVERNOR TO SETTLE IN COULD BE USED AS THE REASON FOR A DELAY.

12.

HOWEVER THERE IS STILL NO GUARANTEE THAT THE DRAFT

SECTIONS 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

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