TNAG-1597-FCO40-2182-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1987 — Page 4

LAST

PAPER

CONFIDENTIAL

OCMIAN 6605

CONFIDENTIAL

OO HOKON

FM FCOLN TO HOKON

1010422 FEB

GRS 245

0112

RECPA 16 IN REGISTRY

1 OFEB 1907

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 373

OF 101042Z FEBRUARY 87

16605 1

-

DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, FROM HKD

1. WE HAVE NOTED THE REPORT IN THE GIST OF 6 FEBRUARY ABOUT AN ARTICLE BY SAN WEI-SZE IN MING PAO, PLACING A SINISTER INTERPRÉTATION ON YOUR PLAN TO SECOND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS TO BRITISH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. THE ARTICLE REPORTEDLY

SUGGESTS THAT ALL THREE SECONDEES ARE GOING TO THE CABINET OFFICE, WHERE THEY WILL LEARN THE TECHNIQUES REQUIRED UNDER A MINISTERIAL SYSTEM, INCLUDING LIAISING WITH POLITICAL GROUPS AND DRAFTING POLITICAL PAPERS. IT ALLEGES THAT THIS IS A MOVE

TO INTRODUCE A QUOTE BRITISH-STYLE PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM IN

HONG KONG UNQUOTE.

2. SEEN FROM HERE IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE IF YOU COULD FIND A

WAY TO REBUT THIS STORY. YOU MIGHT POINT OUT THAT THE

SECONDMENTS ARE CONCERNED WITH NO MORE THAN TRAINING IN

ADMINISTRATION: THEY ARE NO MORE SINISTER THAN THE SIMILAR PLANS FOR HKG OFFICIALS TO STUDY CHINESE GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION IN PEKING.

3. WE NOTE THAT THE AUTHOR OF THE ARTICLE IS THE PSEUDONYMOUS JOURNALIST WHO FIRST SUGGESTED THAT THE COLONIAL LAWS VALIDITY ACT HAD SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE FUTURE CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

OF HONG KONG (YOUR TELNOS 232 AND 316). WE SHOULD BE

INTERESTED IN ANY MORE BACKGROUND YOU CAN PROVIDE ON THE

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