TNAG-2451-FCO40-3568-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 93

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MOHIAN 4770

GOING AHEAD, EG BY WITHHOLDING AGREEMENT TO LAND GRANTS AND SCARING OFF CONTRACTORS.

9.

WE MAY BE IN FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TRENCH WARFARE. AS LU PING MADE CLEAR PUBLICLY, THE CHINESE REGARD THE BALL AS BEING IN OUR COURT NOT THEIRS. NO PROGRESS WILL BE MADE IN THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE SO LONG AS THE DISPUTE ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES PERSISTS. IF DISCUSSIONS ON THE LATTER GET GOING IN THE JLG AT ALL THE CHINESE WILL DO NO MORE THAN REPEAT WHAT HAS BEEN SAID ALREADY. THEY WILL PRODUCE NO PROPOSALS OF THEIR OWN.

10. THE ONLY WAY FORWARD I CAN SEE IS TO CONSIDER WHETHER, WITHOUT LOSING THEIR ESSENTIAL CHARACTER, THE PROPOSALS FOR THE 1995 ELECTIONS CAN BE MODIFIED IN WAYS WHICH WOULD ENABLE THEM TO BE PRESENTED PLAUSIBLY TO THE CHINESE AS HAVING MET THEIR MOST IMPORTANT CONCERNS. IF THIS COULD BE DONE IT WOULD OF COURSE BE NECESSARY TO EXPLORE CAREFULLY WHETHER SOME MOVE ON OUR PART WOULD BE LIKELY TO RECEIVE AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE BEFORE TAKING MATTERS FURTHER. NEGOTIATIONS WOULD BE HARD, LONG AND DIFFICULT. I DO NOT THINK THAT THE CHINESE WOULD ACCEPT ANY DEADLINE RELATED TO THE TIMETABLE FOR PUTTING DRAFT LEGISLATION TO LEGCO.

MCLAREN

YYYY

MAIN

.HK POLICY

HKD

PUSD

FED

63

DISTRIBUTION

72

PLANNERS

RAD

PS

LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT

.AND MS BROOKS

NEWS D

PS/MR GOODLAD

SIR J COLES

MR APPLEYARD

MR HUM

ADDITIONAL

CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE CAOFF//MISS NEVILLE-JONES

CA OFF/MR SIBSON

2222

CAOFF//MS D CORNER CAOFF//MR CHARLTON

PS/PM.

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