CONFIDENTIAL
Matts Hits 이라고
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2755
OF 241042Z NOVEMBER 92
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
145
077653
MDHIAN 9088
@ CIUT ?
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: EXCO, 24 NOVEMBER.
·
1 THERE WAS A DISCUSSION THIS MORNING IN EXCO ON THE WAY AHEAD
ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
2. I BRIEFED THE COUNCIL ON MY MEETINGS IN LONDON. I SAID THAT THERE WAS BROAD SUPPORT FOR MY PROPOSALS AT WESTMINSTER. THE ONLY QUALIFICATIONS CAME FROM LABOUR AND THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS WHO FELT THAT WE HAD NOT GONE FAR ENOUGH. HMG REGARDED MY PROPOSALS AS A COMPROMISE, BUT ONE THAT THEY FULLY SUPPORTED. THERE WAS NO FEELING THAT WHAT I HAD PROPOSED WAS AGGRESSIVELY PROVOCATIVE OR THAT IT WENT TOO FAR. THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT PRESS HONG KONG FURTHER THAN IT WISHED TO GO, BUT NOR WOULD IT TRY TO GO LESS FAR THAN HONG KONG WANTED TO GO. THE FINAL DECISION WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE IN HONG KONG AND, PROVIDED IT RESULTED IN FAIR ELECTIONS, I WAS SURE IT WOULD RECEIVE THE SUPPORT OF HMG.
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3 I SAID THAT I WAS PLEASED TO NOTE THAT SOME PEOPLE WERE BEGINNING TO PUT FORWARD ALTERNATIVES. EXCO WOULD NEED TO DECIDE AFTER CHRISTMAS WHAT TO PUT TO LEGCO. I DID NOT HAVE FIXED IDEAS
ON THE EXACT FORM OF A LEGISLATIVE VEHICLE. A SINGLE BILL WAS A POSSIBILITY, BUT SO WERE TWO OR THREE BILLS. LEGCO WOULD THEN NEED TO DECIDE WHETHER TO ACCEPT OR AMEND THE PROPOSALS PUT TO THEM. IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO INCLUDE OPTIONS ON SOME OF THE CONTENTIOUS ISSUES, BUT IT COULD BE BETTER TO GIVE LEGCO OUR BEST
SINGLE JUDGEMENT.
4.
ASKED WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES WERE WHEN LEGISLATION WAS PUT TO LEGCO. I SAID THAT I SAW THREE. LEGCO MIGHT PASS THE PROPOSALS UNAMENDED. ON THE THREE DIFFICULT ISSUES, LEGCO SEEMED TO SUPPORT FAIRLY CLEARLY THE VOTING SYSTEM FOR GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTITUENCIES. THEY HAD HITHERTO SUPPORTED MY PROPOSAL ON THE ELECTION COMMITTEE. THERE WAS PROBABLY MORE UNEASINESS ON FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES. A SECOND POSSIBILITY WAS THAT LEGISLATION WOULD BE AMENDED IN THE COURSE OF LEGCO DELIBERATION.
THE THIRD POSSIBILITY WAS THAT SUPPORT WOULD EMERGE FOR AN
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CONFIDENTIAL
Redacted under FOI exemptions 27(1), 40(2) and 41.
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