CONFIDENTIAL
026 16
MDHIAN 17
POSITION BEING ADOPTED BY HMG WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS. THE OMELCO CONSENSUS WAS PASSED TO THE CHINESE SIDE AT AN EARLIER STAGE: IT WAS POINTED OUT THAT IT COMMANDED WIDE PUBLIC SUPPORT. IN HONG KONG. THE REASON WHY IT WAS NOT MENTIONED IN THE PUBLISHED DOCUMENTS IS THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS HAD BY THEN MOVED BEYOND THAT STAGE.
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WERE KEPT FULLY BRIEFED THROUGHOUT THESE DISCUSSIONS. HMG'S AIM IN THESE DISCUSSIONS WAS TO SEEK THE MAXIMUM EXTENT OF DEMOCRACY FOR THE FUTURE CONSISTENT WITHE EXPRESSED DESIRE FOR THE SMOOTH TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT IN 1997. UNQUOTE.
3. ON GROUNDS OF CONFIDENTIALITY, WE INTEND TO GIVE STONE- WALLING ANSWERS IN RESPONSE TO LIKELY SUPPLEMENTARIES ON FURTHER DETAILS OF THE DIPLOMATIC NEGOTIATIONS AND/OR EXCO DISCUSSIONS.
WE SHALL STICK CLOSELY TO THE DEFENSIVE MATERIAL AND SUPPLEMENTARY Q AND A'S PREPARED FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THE DIPLOMATIC EXCHANGES ON 28 OCTOBER.
5.
GRATEFUL FOR COMMENTS FROM YOU AND PEKING DESKBY 10010OZ.
PATTEN
Redacted Under FOI
Exemption Sec 27(1)(a)(c)(d)
YYYY
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.