BE FACED WITH A CHOICE BETWEEN REFLECTING THE OUTCOME OF THE 1987
REVIEW IN THE BASIC LAW, APPARENTLY UNDER PRESSURE FROM OURSELVES,
OR MAKING NO PROVISION FOR DIRECT ELECTIONS: A COURSE WHICH WOULD LEAD TO CONFRONTATION WITH HMG AND A SECTOR OF OPINION IN HONG KONG.
IF THE CHINESE COULD BE PERSUADED THAT THE RELEVANT SECTIONS OF THE
BASIC LAW SHOULD BE COUCHED IN GENERAL TERMS, SO AS TO ALLOW FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF DIRECT ELECTIONS, THERE WOULD BE LESS RISK OF DIRECT
CONFRONTATION ARISING ON THE ISSUE OF DIRECT ELECTIONS. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT YET RESPONDED TO THE SUGGESTION MADE, IN THE PAPER
(THE COVERING NOTE TO TRILOGY 11) PASSED BY THE SECRETARY FOR STATE
TO FOREIGN MINISTER WU XUEQIAN IN OCTOBER 1986, THAT THE BASIC LAW
SHOULD NOT PRESCRIBE TOO RIGID A FORMULA FOR THE COMPOSITION
OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR THE CONTINUING
EVOLUTION OF THE HONG KONG POLITICAL STRUCTURE UP TO AND BEYOND 1997.
THE PRESENT TIMETABLE FOR THE 1987 REVIEW
!
5.
WE HAVE STATED PUBLICLY THAT THE GREEN PAPER WILL BE
PUBLISHED 'NO LATER THAN MAY'' 1987, THAT A PERIOD OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION LASTING FOUR TO FIVE MONTHS WILL FOLLOW, AND THAT A
WHITE PAPER WILL BE PUBLISHED AROUND THE END OF THE YEAR. KEY EVENTS
WITHIN THE TIMETABLE WILL BE THE PRODUCTION OF THE REPORT OF THE
SURVEY OFFICE, TO BE ESTABLISHED TO COLLECT PUBLIC VIEWS, AND DEBATE
IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THESE ARE DUE TO TAKE PLACE IN MID-
OCTOBER AND EARLY NOVEMBER RESPECTIVELY.
THE CHINESE TIMETABLE FOR THE BASIC LAW
6
THE WORK OF THE BLDC IS NOW ENTERING A MORE INTENSIVE AND
DETAILED PHASE. BUT THERE HAS BEEN SOME DELAY IN THE DRAFTING OF
SECTIONS OF THE BASIC LAW DEALING WITH THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF
THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (HKSAR). IN PART THIS
DELAY MAY REFLECT UNCERTAINTY ON THE CHINESE SIDE. BUT THE EFFECT
WHETHER DELIBERATE OR NOT, IS TO MAKE OUR OWN TASK MORE DIFFICULT. FOR THE REASONS ELABORATED BELOW.
7.
THE KEY DATES IN RESPECT OF THE DRAFTING OF THE SECTIONS
ON THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF THE FUTURE HKSAR, FOLLOWING MEETINGS
IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH OF THE SPECIAL GROUP ON THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE
ARE AS FOLLOWS :
APRIL 1987
AUGUST 1987
FOURTH BLDC PLENARY. NO DISCUSSIONS OF POLITICAL
STRUCTURE PLANNED.
FIFTH BLDC PLENARY. TO DISCUSS THE SPECIAL GROUP'S
FURTHER REPORT ON POLITICAL STRUCTURE. THE REPORT
MIGHTS INCLUDE DRAFT ARTICLES ON LESS CONTROVERSIAL
TOPICS, PLUS A NARROWER RANGE OF OPTIONS ON CONTROV-
ERSIAL ISSUES.
DECEMBER 1987 SIXTH BLDC PLENARY. TO DISCUSS IN DETAIL DRAFT BASIC
/LAW
2 SECRET
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