TNAG-2119-FCO40-3025-Future-of-Hong-Kong-general-1990 — Page 215

CONFIDENTIAL

3. The main additional requirement for HKD since Mr Figgis' minute

under reference was the study which I undertook, in response to a request from HKD in July, to investigate whether HMG had expressed a view on the compatibility between the International Covenant on

Civil and Political Rights and New Territories land policies in Hong

Kong. This study, which was required for use in discussions with

the Hong Kong Government in October, was completed in September.

4.

As you know, I am undertaking other work for FED, which is also

of interest to HKD. This includes:

5.

a)

b)

a paper on the relations between centre and provinces in

China, the second draft of which I expect to have ready very

soon. (The first draft was issued in July but the second

has been delayed somewhat because of priority given to the

paper described in para 3).

responsibility, since Miss Morton's departure in September,

for analytical coverage of the top Chinese leadership,

including production of the monthly RAD Report: "Activities

of the Chinese Leadership".

I assume that for the period beginning in November and covering

1991, you will wish me (or whoever in RAD may be covering Hong Kong)

to maintain a similar focus to that stated in para 3 of Mr Figgis'

minute under reference, ie:-

As topics receiving priority for comment and analysis:-

a) Chinese policy towards Hong Kong (general rather than

technical aspects);

b)

Chinese views on Hong Kong's future autonomy;

c)

Indications of Chinese views on Hong Kong issues affected by

the adoption of the Basic Law.

HOTAAL/2

CONFIDENTIAL