TNAG-1597-FCO40-2182-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1987 — Page 190

L

GRS 300

SECRET

FM PEKING

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 019

SECRET

HKK ON?

KCCEIVED IN REGISTRY

13 JAN 1987

OF 050859Z JANUARY 87

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG/

-3

DESK OFFICER

HIEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

FCO FOR LAYDEN HKD.

in

HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR ACTING GOVERNOR.

YOUR TELNO'S 6-8 TO HONG KONG : 1987 REVIEW.

1. WE THINK THE DRAFT PAPER IN TUR'S A GOOD ONE. WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING (IN MOST CASE MINOR) COMMENTS :-

(A) PARAGRAPH 3, SENTENCE 1 AMEND TO '' MOTIVES AND INTENTIONS.''

SUSPICIONS OF OUR

(B) PARAGRAPH 3, SENTENCE 3 WE SUGGEST THE LANGUAGE REFLECT RATHER MORE ACCURATELY THE CHINESE POSITION AS WE UNDERSTAND IT AS FOLLOWS: ''... AND THAT NO DECISION BE TAKEN TO INTRODUCE DIRECT ELECTIONS BEFORE PROMULGATION OF THE BL IN 1990 (THOUGH THE CHINESE MAY JUST BE INDUCED TO ACCEPT ANNOUNCEMENT BY US OF A DECISION TO INTRODUCE DIRECT ELECTIONS AFTER COMPLETION BY THE BLDC OF THE BL DRAFTING PROCESS).''

(C) PARAGRAPH 6: AMEND 1988 ENTRY TO : IT IS POSSIBLE

11

PUBLICATION OF DRAFT BL.

(D) PARAGRAPH 13 : SURVEY OFFICE REPORT/BLDC PLENARY : WE IMAGINE THAT THE OPTIMUM WOULD BE FOR THE LEGCO DEBATE TO PRECEDE THE 6TH BLDC PLENARY IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE MAXIMUM INPUT OF HONG KONG VIEWS TO

BLDC DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUE.,

(E) PARAGRAPH 17, 3RD AND 4TH SENTENCES: WE SEE NO REASON WHY THE CHINESE SHOULD BE HESITANT OVER THE NEW GOVERNOR TAKING UP THE DIALOGUE WHERE IT WAS LEFT OFF AND MAINTAINING THE SAME DEGREE OF MOMENTUM FROM THE OUTSET. WE AMCEPT, HOWEVER, THAT THIS MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE FOR HONG KONG - RELATED REASONS. WE THEREFORE SUGGEST AMENDMENT OF THESE SENTENCES TO: ALTHOUGH THE CHINESE WOULD PROBABLY BE PREPARED TO AGREE TO THE NEW GOVERNOR CONTINUING THE CONTACTS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN SIR E YOUDE AND CHINESE POLICY MAKERS WITHOUT UNDUE DELAY, HE WOULD PROBABLY WISH FIRST TO ESTABLISH HIMSELF FIRMLY IN HONG KONG AND WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE IN EFFECTIVE PLAY WITH THE CHINESE UNTIL THE SECOND HALF OF 1987. IN THE INTERIM, THE CONTACTS IN QUESTION WOULD NOT EASILY BE TAKEN UP BY THE ACTING GOVERNOR."

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