TNAG-2008-FCO40-2856-Basic-Law-constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-relations-1990 — Page 96

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

DSR (Revised Sept 85)

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DRAFT: minute/letter/teleletter/despatch/note

FROM:

SECRETARY OF STATE

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BUILDING:

TO:

The Prime Minister

10 Downing Street

London SW1A 2AA

SUBJECT:

TYPE: Draft/Final 1 +

Reference

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Your Reference

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HONG KONG: FUTURE CONST ITUT IONAL DEVELOPMENT

I have been giving further thought to the question

of Hong Kong's future constitutional development and to

the way we handle our relationship with the Chinese over

this and other issues. The Governor of Hong Kong's

forthcoming visit to Peking (10-12 January) is probably

the last major opportunity we shall have to press the

Chinese for improvements in the Basic Law affecting Hong

Kong's future political structure. In the light of the

outcome of this visit and after my own visit to Hong Kong

(13-16 January), we shall need to take a decision about

the number of directly elected seats to be introduced in

1991.

Enclosures flag(s).

In taking decisions about Hong Kong, we must seek to

steer a middle course. It would be absurd, and very

damaging to our own and Hong Kong's interests, to engage

the Chinese in a confrontation if that can be avoided;

and it would be equally damaging, both domestically and

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