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174
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139
No 22/6
FROM:
A R Paul
Hong Kong Department
144
DATE:
21 June 1990
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BILL OF RIGHTS
Cc:
Mr Burns
Mr Fifoot, Legal
Adviser
HKD241/1
RECE
25 JUN 1990
DESK
STRY
INCL
Taken
173)
Please refer to Mr Fifoot's minute of 20 Junej, with which I have a good deal sympathy. You will recall that I consulted the Governor about the case for delaying the introduction of the Bill. We also instructed the Embassy to 44 speak to the Chinese in Peking (which Mr Coates has now done).
139
169
1.
2. We are now rapidly approaching the point at which we must
choose between:
(a) ploughing on with the drafting and tabling of the Bill on the basis of the current timetable, with the strong likelihood that once it is published it will be denounced by the Chinese; and
(b) taking a longer and broader view of where the Hong Kong interest lies, by making a serious attempt to head off a negative reaction from China.
3.
In view of our strategy to improve the relationship with China over Hong Kong, of which Mr Maude's visit is the most important next step, I wonder whether sufficient weight is being given to the desirability of option (b), as opposed to option (a), which is clearly the preference of the Governor and most of his senior advisers. We need also to bear in mind that China's policy on Hong Kong is in a state of flux indeed some reports have suggested that the autumn may be a crucially decisive period. This suggests to me that we should think very carefully about the wider implications of simply pressing on regardless.
4.
―
Hong Kong's objection to delay seems to be based primarily on the impact that this would have on Hong Kong public opinion. I think the Governor should be asked to give an assessment of the impact on Hong Kong public opinion of the Chinese denouncing the Bill of Rights after it has been
JONADR
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