TNAG-2609-FCO40-3800-International-support-from-the-USA-regarding-the-future-of-H-1992 — Page 69

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TELNO 1072

OF 142235Z MAY 92

INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG, PEKING, ACTOR

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MY TELNO 1070 US/HONG KONG: THE MCCONNELL BILL AND MORE DEMOCRACY

FOR HONG KONG

SUMMARY

1. THE ADMINISTRATION HAVE TOLD THE CHINESE THAT THE MCCONNELL BILL IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE JD, AND PROVIDE A LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR US/HONG KONG RELATIONS. SIR JOHN COLES EXPLAINED THE

COMPLICATIONS OF HANDLING THE HONG KONG DEMOCRACY QUESTION.

DETAIL

2. SOLOMON TOLD COLES THAT THE CHINESE HAD NOT LOBBIED THE US HARD

ABOUT THE MCCONNELL BILL. THE ADMINISTRATION TOOK THE LINE WITH THEM THAT THE BILL WAS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE JOINT DECLARATION, AND TO GIVE THE US THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK IT NEEDED TO DEAL WITH HONG

KONG AFTER 1997.

3.

SOLOMON REFERRED TO MARTIN LEE'S LOBBYING IN WASHINGTON ON THE

ISSUE OF FASTER DEMOCRATISATION IN HONG KONG. COLES ASKED HOW MUCH

INTEREST THE ADMINISTRATION OR CONGRESS WERE TAKING IN THE ISSUE.

HE TOLD SOLOMON THAT WE WERE COMMITTED TO GOING BACK TO THE CHINESE ON THE DEMOCRACY ISSUE, BUT A DECISION ON HOW TO PLAY THE HAND HAD NOT YET BEEN TAKEN. IT WAS NOT A SIMPLE MATTER. OBVIOUSLY EVERY REASONABLE PERSON WAS IN FAVOUR OF MORE DEMOCRACY AS A GENERAL PRINCIPLE, BUT WE HAD TO BEAR IN MIND THAT: (A) SUCH EVIDENCE AS THERE WAS SUGGESTED THAT A MAJORITY IN HONG KONG DID NOT WANT TO PUSH THE ISSUE TO THE POINT OF CONFRONTATION WITH CHINA, (B) IF WE CHALLENGED THE BASIC LAW AT ONE POINT, THE CHINESE MIGHT FEEL FREE TO ALTER OTHER PARTS TO HONG KONG'S DISADVANTAGE, AND (C) THE ISSUE WAS NOT JUST ONE OF MORE DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS, BUT A PACKAGE OF ISSUES RELATED TO THE 1995 ELECTION.

4. BOTH SOLOMON AND PAAL (NSC) SAID THAT FEW PEOPLE HAD YET FOCUSSED ON THE DEMOCRACY ISSUE YET. BUT THEY EXPECTED THE ISSUE TO AROUSE MORE ATTENTION AS 1997 APPROACHED. SOLOMON SAID THAT THE QUESTION WOULD INEVITABLY BE ASKED WHY, AFTER SO LONG A PERIOD OF COLONIAL RULE, THERE WAS SO LITTLE REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY.

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