CONFIDENTIAL
HKC031|22
130
007423
MDHOAN 4576
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 1966
OF 29173OZ SEPTEMBER 89
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PEKING
FROM MCLAREN
MIPT: JLG XIII : PRESS TEA PARTY
NON-ATTRIBUTABLE MATERIAL
BEGINS
PLA
HAVE
1. BRITISH VIEWS HAVE BEEN MADE CLEAR ON MANY OCCASIONS. NEVER CHALLENGED RIGHT OF CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO SEND FORCES TO HONG KONG FOR DEFENCE. BUT ISSUE A HIGHLY SENSITIVE ONE. CHINA COULD MAKE MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE RESTORATION OF CONFIDENCE IN
HONG KONG IF IT WERE TO DEAL WITH ISSUE IN A WAY WHICH RESPECTED THOSE SENSITIVITIES
STATE OF EMERGENCY
2.
JOINT DECLARATION LAYS DOWN THAT THE SAR WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC ORDER. THERE ARE NOW IN HONG KONG LAWS AND POWERS GOVERNING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS WHICH ALLOW HONG KONG TO DECLARE A STATE OF EMERGENCY ON ITS OWN IN TIME OF PEACE. HOPE THAT THESE CAN REMAIN AFTER 1997.
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
3.
EXPLAINED TO CHINESE SIDE THAT VIEWS ON THE FUTURE STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT, AND IN PARTICULAR ON THE FUTURE LEGISLATURE AND PROPORTION OF DIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS, HAVE EVOLVED IN RECENT MONTHS. HOPE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WILL HEED THESE VIEWS AND REFLECT THEM IN THE FINAL DRAFT OF THE BASIC LAW. MAINLAND DRAFTERS VERY WELCOME TO VISIT HONG KONG AT ANY TIME TO HEAR VIEWS.
INTERPRETATION OF THE BASIC LAW
4.
JOINT DECLARATION MAKES CLEAR THAT HONG KONG WILL ENJOY AUTONOMOUS LEGISLATIVE AND JUDICIAL POWER IN AREAS WHICH DO NOT
TOUCH ON FOREIGN AND DEFENCE AFFAIRS. IMPORTANT THAT BASIC LAW PROPERLY REFLECTS THOSE PROVISIONS.
HONG KONG AS A BASE FOR SUBVERSION
5.
NEITHER BRITISH NOR HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS HAVE ANY INTENTION OF ALLOWING HONG KONG TO BE USED AS A BASE FOR SUBVERSION AGAINST THE PRC. BUT HONG KONG GOVERNED BY LAWS. NO ACTIVITIES WITHIN
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