TNAG-2709-FCO40-3915-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-and-Par-1993 — Page 181

Dr Jeremy Bray MP House of Commons

London SW1A 0AA

Fax

071-219 6820

Rt Hon Douglas Hurd MP Secretary of State

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Downing Street

London SW1A 2AL

Hear Douglas

Telephone 071-219 3000 (switchboard)

MACK

071-219 6979 (direct line)

071-219 4057 (direct line)

2. HKD) for a draft mejly from Now Goodland by 15/3pl.

PS

apslie Goodflad

M.lt 5 March 1993 se Ach CπTkani

I am sure Chris Patten is right to go the extra mile to allow the PRC to comment and make suggestions on Hong Kong government proposals for constitutional developments. But I hope you will not allow yourself to be manoeuvred into giving them a veto; into taking out of the hands of Chris Patten responsibility for the proposals for legislation he puts to LegCo; into taking from LegCo the final decision; or into allowing undue delay.

The indications I have from experienced and moderate opinion in Hong Kong are that the Governor's proposals have a good chance of making a lasting contribution to the future of Hong Kong.

You can surely make clear repeatedly that you are not departing from the Joint Declaration, questioning the Basic Law, or imposing arrangements post 1997, while at the same time maintaining that you would be less than fair on the people of Hong Kong and less considerate about leaving China with a stable and prosperous Hong Kong, if the Governor did not allow LegCo to make the immediate decisions.

I am sure the House of Commons would not wish you to weaken the Governor's position.

Заин

ли

Yours mainly

Fremy Bray