TNAG-2451-FCO40-3568-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 27

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 07023OZ NEW DELHI

TELNO 1014

OF 062014Z NOVEMBER 92

CONFIDENTIAL

175) Ita Constir.

Dent

repeat off (175

Khz az/z

027271

MDHOAN 3859

TOP COPY Q DIST?

179

FOR SIR J COLES

FOLLOWING TELEGRAM NOW REPEATED TO YOU AT THE REQUEST OF HKD WAS RECEIVED FROM PEKING AS TELEGRAM NUMBER 1558 OF 5 NOVEMBER

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING

TO DESKBY 05103OZ FCO

TELNO 1558

OF 051005Z NOVEMBER 92

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD, FROM AMBASSADOR

HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR POLITICAL ADVISER UKREP JLG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY

YOUR FAXED LETTER OF 4 NOVEMBER TO EHRMAN: HONG KONG: PAPER FOR OPD(K)

1.

I AGREE THAT MINISTERS SHOULD BE GIVEN A REALISTIC ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLICATIONS FOR HONG KONG OF THE PRESENT CHINESE APPROACH. I AM NOT SURE THAT YOUR PAPER DOES SO IN SUFFICIENTLY STARK TERMS.

2. THE DRAFT IDENTIFIES THE CRUCIAL ISSUE AS BEING WHETHER SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNOR'S PACKAGE WILL HOLD UP IN HONG KONG IN THE FACE OF THE CHINESE PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN. I THINK YOU SHOULD BRING OUT THE FACT THAT WE CANNOT EXPECT THIS CAMPAIGN TO CEASE WITH THE PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION (ASSUMING THAT LEGCO AGREE TO THE PROPOSALS IN THEIR PRESENT FORM). THE CAMPAIGN IS LIKELY TO BE SUSTAINED AND INTENSIFIED OVER THE FOLLOWING TWO YEARS. THE QUESTION IS THUS NOT ONLY WHETHER LEGCO WILL PASS LEGISLATION TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS BUT ALSO WHETHER PUBLIC OPINION WILL SUPPORT THE HOLDING OF ELECTIONS IN 1995 ON A BASIS NOT AGREED WITH THE CHINESE.

3. THIS RAISES THE UNDERLYING ISSUE OF THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP

1

PAGE CONFIDENTIAL