TNAG-2361-FCO40-3432-Visit-by-John-Major--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong-Kong--Septem-1991 — Page 38

ARRANGEMENTS FOR AIRPORT COMMITTEE ETC

- HKG primarily responsible for these. Good talks in Peking

between Governor and Mr Lu Ping.

JLG BUSINESS

JLG business is confidential.

Court of Final Appeal.

Raised this in Peking.

Hope

for early progress. No question of compromising principle of judicial independence;

-

Hope

Defence Lands. Also raised this complex subject.

for faster progress now. Not helpful to discuss publicly

yet;

Air Services Agreements. Rather a slow process: need

to press on;

British Consulate-General. Continuing discussions with

HKG and Chinese: should be easy to settle. We intend to

build a fitting Consulate-General, which will mark our

confidence in Hong Kong's continuing success after 1997.

LEGCO ELECTIONS

LegCo elections a landmark in development of representative government. Hope for large turn-out.

(Defensive) Electoral arrangements a matter for HKG. Confident they will be fair and orderly. HKG will review afterwards and consider any need for change.

-

(Defensive) It remains our policy to try to persuade the Chinese to accept a faster pace of democratisation, in line with Hong Kong opinion.

ARRAFB/1