TNAG-2451-FCO40-3568-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 33

CONFIDENTIAL

027267

MDHG

3858

OUR PRIORITIES SHOULD THEREFORE BE TO:

GIVE STRONG SUPPORT TO THE GOVERNOR IN PROMOTING HIS PROPOSALS IN HONG KONG

CONSIDER CHANGES ONLY IF THESE ARE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO

SUSTAIN SUPPORT IN HONG KONG FOR THE KEY ELEMENTS OF HIS PROPOSALS

- CONTAIN THIS ROW AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, AND SHOW THAT WE ARE READY FOR COOPERATION WITH CHINA BOTH OVER HONG KONG AND MORE WIDELY. THERE ARE AREAS WHERE CHINA HAS AN INCENTIVE TO WORK WITH US, FOR EXAMPLE IN LOBBYING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OVER MFN STATUS FOR CHINA.

A MEETING BETWEEN ME AND THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER, QIAN QICHEN, MIGHT HELP AT THE RIGHT MOMENT. THE CHINESE HAVE THEMSELVES TALKED OF RAISING THE ISSUE TO FOREIGN MINISTER OR PRIME MINISTER LEVEL. QIAN SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN SOME INCREASED RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HONG KONG FOLLOWING THE PARTY CONGRESS. I AM AT PRESENT PLANNING TO SEE HIM FOR THE NEXT OF OUR SIX-MONTHLY MEETINGS NEXT MARCH. BUT WE COULD IF NECESSARY LOOK FOR AN EARLIER OPPORTUNITY, BEFORE LEGISLATION IS PUT TO LEGCO.

I AM COPYING THIS MINUTE TO OPD (K) COLLEAGUES, AND TO SIR ROBIN BUTLER.

ENDS

HURD

YYYY

MAIN

14

HKD

FED

NNNN

DISTRIBUTION

14

MR HUM

PAGE

4

CONFIDENTIAL