TNAG-1721-FCO40-2401-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-delegati-1988 — Page 29

COZADG (2)

COZADG

Background

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1.

We attach the defensive modules prepared for the forthcoming debate in the House of Lords. They give a good description of the main issues raised by the draft Basic Law, and of the line to take on each. It would not however be necessary to be quite as cagey with Mr Lee as in some of the modules. In particular more will be said on the question of the consistency of the Basic Law with the Joint Declaration, as follows:

We shall continue to make very clear to the Chinese Government, as we have been doing, the extent to which we have reservations about any variation between the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. That is what the consultation period is

about.

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