TNAG-1902-FCO40-2701-Future-of-Hong-Kong-briefing-1989 — Page 9

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FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 25110OZ FCO TELNO 3155

OF 25100OZ SEPTEMBER 89

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PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR

YOUR FAX OF 23 SEPTEMBER: BRIEF FOR SECRETARY OF STATE

1. THE GENERAL LINE SEEMS FINE. I HAVE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS ON

POINTS OF DETAIL:

I)

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. WORTH FEEDING IN THE THOUGHT THAT WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR AN EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION UP TO 1997. TO ACHIEVE THIS WE MUST INTRODUCE STEADY AND GRADUAL CHANGE WHICH RESPONDS TO THE NEEDS OF SOCIETY. THERE HAVE BEEN WIDESPREAD CALLS FOR MORE DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN 1991 FROM ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING NOTABLY THOSE WHO ARE INFLUENTIAL IN BUSINESS.

II) CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. ADD ALSO A DEFENSIVE POINT ON RADICALS GAINING POWER AND USING IT FOR ANTI-CHINA ACTIVITIES. THE FACT IS THAT MOST OF HONG KONG SOCIETY IS PRAGMATIC AND GENERALLY CONSERVATIVE. EXPERIENCE SHOWS THAT THE WAY TO DEAL WITH MORE RADICAL ELEMENTS IS TO DEVISE A SPEED OF CHANGE WHICH MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE MAJORITY OF INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE AND PREVENTS THE RADICALS GAINING CREDIBILITY BY CLAIMING THAT THE NATURAL WISH FOR POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE COMMUNITY IS BEING THWARTED.

III) RECLAMATION. BETTER TO SEPARATE THE AIRPORT AND THE CENTRAL/WANCHAI RECLAMATION. THE FIRST IS A DEVELOPMENT OF OLYMPIC PROPORTIONS WHICH WILL BE A MAJOR FEATURE OF MY SPEECH. THE SECOND IS OF A MUCH LESSER SCALE AND WILL ONLY BE REFERRED TO IN PASSING. WE SHOULD NOT GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THE CENTRAL/WANCHAI RECLAMATION IS GOING TO BE GIVEN GREAT PROMINENCE IN MY SPEECH.

IV) BACKGROUND. CONTACTS. YOU MIGHT ADD A REFERENCE TO MY CONTACTS WITH XU ON 23 MAY AND 5 JUNE, AND KE ON 13 SEPTEMBER, JUST IN CASE ANYTHING SAID THERE IS BROUGHT UP BY QIAN.

V) BACKGROUND. BASIC LAW. A NIGGLE. ARTICLE 23 PROVIDES THAT THE SAR SHALL/SHALL ENACT LAWS AGAINST TREASON ETC.

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