TNAG-2452-FCO40-3569-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 129

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MDHOAN 3923

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 10010OZ HONG KONG

TELNO 1589

OF 091701Z NOV 92

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM RICKETTS

PEKING PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR

UKREP JLG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY

MIPT: HONG KONG: ADDITIONAL POINTS FOR OPD(K) MINUTE

1.

FOLLOWING ARE OUR INITIAL THOUGHTS ON POINTS TO COVER IN RECASTING THE DRAFT MINUTE IN ORDER TO MEET THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S POINTS:

(I) WHAT WE MIGHT TALK TO THE CHINESE ABOUT.

A NEW PARAGRAPH MAKING THE FOLLOWING POINTS:

- THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF A DISCUSSION WITH THE CHINESE WOULD BE TO DRAW THEM INTO PUTTING FORWARD SPECIFIC PROPOSALS OF THEIR OWN IN PLACE OF THOSE IN YOUR PACKAGE WHICH THEY REJECT.

IT IS CLEAR FROM THEIR COMMENTS TO YOU IN PEKING AND SUBSEQUENTLY THAT THEY ARE PARTICULARY ANGRY ABOUT THE PROPOSALS ON THE ELECTION COMMITTEE AND THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES (AS Attre WELL AS THE GOVERNMENT-LEGCO COMMITTEE, WHICH LEGCO HAVE NOT

Lets my. SO FAR TAKEN UP).

THE CHINESE HAVE MADE PLAIN THAT THEY DO NOT INTEND TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE IN PUTTING FORWARD PROPOSALS. BUT WE HAVE HAD ONE INDICATION (THE CONVERSATION

REPORTED IN GOODSTADT'S MINUTE OF 31 OCTOBER) THAT THEY WOULD BE PREPARED TO RESPOND IF WE REFERRED TO THE POSITIONS OF THE TWO SIDES ON THE ELECTION COMMITTEE AND FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, AND ASKED HOW THE CHINESE SIDE BELIEVED THE DIFFERENCIES SHOULD BE RESOLVED. (IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW HOW MUCH CREDENCE YOU THINK WE CAN ATTACH TO THIS REPORT, WHICH TENDS TO RUN COUNTER TO OTHER MATERIAL WE ARE SEEING).

- (IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER THOUGHTS ON SPECIFIC AREAS WHICH MIGHT BE COVERED IN DISCUSSION WITH THE CHINESE, THEY COULD BE ADDED AT THIS POINT).

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Redacted under FOI exemptions 27(1), 40(2) and 41.