TNAG-1748-FCO40-2467-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1988 — Page 63

CONFIDENTIAL

flexibility over discussing the Basic Law with us, provided that the public position is properly maintained, the Chinese appear unlikely to reject this.

PUBLIC REACTION IN HONG KONG

5. A lively debate in Hong Kong has already begun. Some criticisms of the draft have already been aired, along expected lines. Points attracting most attention are:

i) the political system, including provision for direct elections,

the concept of a "Grand Electoral College", and the

accountability of the executive authorities to the legislature;

ii) whether the SAR will enjoy the promised high degree of

autonomy:

iii) the relationship between the Basic Law and the Chinese

Constitution;

iv) the power of courts in Hong Kong to interpret the Basic Law;

and the application of "nationwide statutes";

v)

provision for guarantees of human rights;

vi) the provisions on the economy;

vii) the need for an authentic English text of the Basic Law.

BRITISH MEDIA REACTION

6.

After an initial burst of interest in the British media immediately on publication, there has been little subsequent interest. Most of the serious papers ran leaders, which were on predictable lines (eg insufficient democracy, too much scope for Chinese interference, etc). We can expect that the British media and MPs will probably take their lead from Martin Lee and other "liberals". It seems likely that he will wish to visit London again for possible Parliamentary debates.

CONFIDENTIAL