SECRET
066063
MDHIAN 7542
5. WE PUT OUR DRAFT STRATEGIC PAPER TO EXCO ON 9 FEBRUARY. MIFT
CONTAINS A RECORD OF THE DISCUSSION. WE HAVE NOW REASSESSED THE
VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF OUR STRATEGY IN THE LIGHT OF EXCO'S ADVICE.
WE REMAIN OF THE VIEW THAT OUR PAPER MUST BE SUFFICIENTLY DETAILED
TO CONVINCE THE CHINESE THAT THE ALTERNATIVES WE ARE SUGGESTING WOULD ADEQUATELY MEET THEIR CONCERNS. AT THE SAME TIME WE BELIEVE WE CAN RETAIN THE MAIN THRUST OF OUR IDEAS WITHOUT MAKING
SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO THE ROLE OF THE GEC. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE
SECTION OF THE PAPER DEALING WITH THE FORMATION OF THE LEGISLATURE
WE MIGHT INSTEAD OF THE PRESENT SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO INTRODUCING GEC ELECTIONS IN 1995, SIMPLY STATE THAT WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO CARRY OUT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN
FULL CONFORMITY WITH PROVISIONS OF BASIC LAW, PROVIDED THAT THE LEGISLATURE SO ELECTED MAY CONTINUE IN OFFICE FOR AN UNINTERRUPTED
PERIOD SPANNING THE TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY.
6. APART FROM THESE POINTS I AM NOT AT THIS STAGE CONVINCED THAT
WE NEED TO RECONSIDER ANY OF THE MAIN STRANDS OF OUR THINKING.
MARTIN LEE HAS BEEN MAKING MUCH OF THE SUPPOSED UNDEMOCRATIC
NATURE OF THE GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE. BUT HE HAS OVER-STATED HIS CASE. THERE IS, FOR EXAMPLE, NO OPTION IN THE BASIC LAW THAT ALLOWS 50 PERCENT OF THE SEATS IN THE SAR LEGISLATURE TO BE
ELECTED IN THIS FASHION. THE MAXIMUM PERCENTAGE IN THE THREE
OPTIONS IS 30 PERCENT. (EVEN YOU SEEM TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN BY HIS ADVOCACY EXCLAM.)
7. DRAFTING IS NOW IN HAND ALONG THESE LINES. OUR AIM IS TO
SEND YOU A FIRST DRAFT OF THE PAPER NEXT TUESDAY (16 FEBRUARY).
WILSON
YYYY
MAIN
18
LIMITED
HKD
N N N N
DISTRIBUTION
18
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.