TNAG-2103-FCO40-2995-Future-of-Hong-Kong-exchanges-with-the-Chinese-on-the-Basic--1990 — Page 132

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO 394

OF 20180OZ FEBRUARY 90

HKCO HKC012/3

012/3

RECEI

12 MAR 1990

DESK OFFICE

INDEX

ISTRY

Pi

จนแจก Taken

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

(21

163651 MDHOAN 3554

YOUR TELNOS 633, 639 AND 646: BASIC LAW: OVERALL ASSESSMENT

1.

2.

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THESE ANALYSES.

WE SHALL NEED TO SUBMIT TO MINISTERS AN OVERALL ASSESSMENT OF THE FINAL DRAFT, INCLUDING RECOMMENDATIONS ON ANY FOLLOW UP ACTION WITH THE CHINESE. THIS WILL NEED TO REFER BACK TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S LAST LETTER TO QIAN QICHEN AND TO INCLUDE A PUBLIC LINE

TO TAKE.

3. OUR VIEW IS THAT PUBLICLY WE SHOULD TRY TO BE AS POSITIVE AS WE CAN ABOUT THE BASIC LAW (BUT WITHOUT SEEMING TO LEAP TO THE DEFENCE OF THE CHINESE). AS FAR AS FURTHER REPRESENTATIONS TO THE CHINESE ARE CONCERNED, WE RECOGNISE THAT THE CHANCES OF SECURING ANY FURTHER CHANGES AT THIS STAGE ARE FAIRLY SLIM. WE THEREFORE SEE NO POINT IN GOING BACK TO THE CHINESE ON DETAILED DRAFTING POINTS. WE THINK THAT WE SHOULD CONFINE OURSELVES (A) TO POINTS WHICH COULD CREATE SERIOUS PRACTICAL

DIFFICULTIES EG ARTICLE 24 OR (B) TO POINT OF SUCH MAJOR SIGNIFICANCE THAT A FINAL ATTEMPT TO SECURE CHANGES

WOULD BE WARRANTED. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR VIEWS AND THOSE OF COPY ADDRESSEES ON THE ABOVE AND ON THE MOST APPROPRIATE CHANNEL FOR ANY FURTHER EXCHANGES.

HURD

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

57

.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

.(RESTRICTED)

LIMITED

DISTRIBUTION

PUSD

NEWS D

PS/MR MAUDE

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