SECRET
152200
MDHIAN
WITH THIS PACKAGE I AM VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE DANGER THAT IT MAY PLEASE NO-ONE. INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES SUCH AS 'NO MORE DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS' AND 'MARTIN LEE KEPT OFF EXCO' COULD RESULT AT THE SAME TIME AS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND CHINA DENOUNCE OUR PROPOSALS. TO RETAIN CREDIBILITY, THE PACKAGE MUST THUS PUSH DEMOCRACY AS FAR AS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE BASIC LAW. BECAUSE THE GEOGRAPHICAL AND FUNCTIONAL ISSUES ARE FAIRLY CLEAR- CUT, I THINK A LOT WILL DEPEND ON THE PERCEPTION OF THE ELECTION COMMITTEE. I NEED TO MAKE CLEAR IN MY ADDRESS WHAT MY IDEAS ARE, I.E. THE BASIS ON WHICH I SHALL BE SEEKING AGREEMENT IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE. IN PRACTICE, HAVING DONE THIS, I WOULD NOT BE PREPARED TO RETREAT ON THE SUBSTANCE.
25. AT THE SAME TIME, I DO NOT WANT TO WORD MY SPEECH IN TERMS SO ABSOLUTE, THAT THEY APPEAR TO RULE OUT SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION WITH THE CHINESE, PARTICULARLY WHERE THE ELECTION COMMITTEE IS CONCERNED. AN APPARENT FAIT ACCOMPLI OF THIS KIND MIGHT PUT IRRESISTIBLE PRESSURE ON THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP TO DENOUNCE THE WHOLE PACKAGE IMMEDIATELY AND TO SET ABOUT GOING THEIR OWN WAY. IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES THEY COULD AVOID THE ISSUES OF SUBSTANCE, AND PRESENT THEIR POSITION AS A RESULT OF THE BRITISH NOT FULFILLING THEIR COMMITMENT TO CONSULT THE CHINESE SINCERELY.
26.
IF I AM TO BE CLEAR ENOUGH IN WHAT I SAY ON 7 OCTOBER THERE IS SOME RISK OF THIS HAPPENING ANYWAY. WE SHALL, HOWEVER, DRAFT CAREFULLY WITH THE IDEA OF MINIMISING IT SO FAR AS IS POSSIBLE. THUS THE FORMULA IN PARAGRAPHS 16-19 ABOVE.
PATTEN
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
62
.HK AGREEMENT (JLG)
HKD
PUSD
FED
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT
.AND MS BROOKS
NEWS D
ADDITIONAL
2
CAB OFF//MS D CORNER
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
64
PLANNERS
RAD
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
SIR J COLES
MR HUM
CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE
6
PAGE
SECRET
CAB OFF//MR CHARLTON
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.