TNAG-2209-FCO40-3169-Future-of-Hong-Kong-principal-officials-1991 — Page 56

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

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INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

OF 090423Z DECEMBER 91

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HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR PS/GH

LORD CAITHNESS' DISCUSSION WITH THE GOVERNOR: 7 DECEMBER

1. LORD CAITHNESS HAD HALF AN HOUR'S TALK WITH THE GOVERNOR ON THE EVENING OF 7 DECEMBER. THE FOLLOWING MAIN POINTS WERE COVERED.

LEGCO/CHINA

2. LORD CAITHNESS RAISED HIS CONCERN THAT CHINESE HOSTILITY TO LEGCO WOULD COMPLICATE THE WORK OF THE JLG. A PROBLEM IN ONE AREA TENDED TO SPREAD AND AFFECT ALL OTHER AREAS. THE GOVERNOR AGREED THAT WE FACED CONFLICTING PRESSURES: ON THE ONE HAND LEGCO MEMBERS WOULD CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR MORE CONSULTATION ON ISSUES UNDER DISCUSSION IN THE JLG. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE CHINESE WERE INTENSELY SUSPICIOUS OF OUR MOTIVES. THEY SAW MARTIN LEE AS A PUPPET OF THE BRITISH.

3.

IN RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR'S QUESTION, LORD CAITHNESS COMMENTED THAT THERE WAS GROWING CONCERN ABOUT HONG KONG AT WESTMINSTER. THERE WERE SOME WHO SAW THE PROBLEM IN RESPONSIBLE TERMS. BUT THERE WERE MANY WHO THOUGHT THAT MORE DEMOCRACY WAS THE ANSWER TO ALL PROBLEMS. HE DID NOT RULE OUT THAT THE MOOD COULD BECOME INCREASINGLY NERVOUS IN THE PERIOD 92-95. THE GOVERNOR COMMENTED THAT THE MORE IRRESPONSIBLE END OF THE SPECTRUM IN WESTMINSTER TENDED TO ENCOURAGE THE HOT HEADS IN HONG KONG AS WELL, WHICH FURTHER INCREASED CHINESE SUSPICIONS.

THE GOVERNOR IDENTIFIED TWO FURTHER PROBLEMS. WE HAD TO AVOID THE CIVIL SERVICE IN HONG KONG BECOMING DEFENSIVE AS A RESULT OF THE BARRAGE OF CRITICISM FROM L'EGCO. WE ALSO HAD TO ENCOURAGE EXCO MEMBERS TO STAND UP FOR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY. THE GOVERNOR HAD MADE IT CLEAR THAT ON THE CFA ISSUE HE WOULD ALLOW INDIVIDUAL EXCO MEMBERS TO FOLLOW THEIR CONSCIENCE IN VOTING IN

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CONFIDENTIAL