TNAG-2730-FCO40-3936-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1993 — Page 112

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HAD ALREADY TAKEN RISKED DAMAGING HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC FUTURE MAY ALSO HAVE BEEN FACTORS. BUT WE SHOULD KEEP THIS IN PERSPECTIVE. THE CHINESE FUNDAMENTALLY OPPOSED TO THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS ON FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND THE ELECTION COMMITTEE AS THEY STAND. IF HIS PACKAGE WAS TO EMERGE FROM LEGCO UNAMENDED OR ONLY MARGINALLY AMENDED, WE MUST EXPECT THE CHINESE TO RETURN TO CONFRONTATION, AND AT THE LEAST TO SET UP THE ADVISORY BODY FORESHADOWED BY LU PING. THEY COULD WELL REVERT TO SOME OF THE MORE EXTREME MEASURES THEY HAD EARLIER CONTEMPLATED WHATEVER THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC COST. WE COULD THEN FACE FOUR VERY DIFFICULT YEARS IN HONG KONG.

7. IN PURSING OUR OBJECTIVE OF ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1995 WHICH ARE FAIR, OPEN AND COMMAND WIDESPREAD SUPPORT IN HONG KONG, WE THEREFORE NEED TO AVOID TWO PITFALLS:

AMENDING THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS IN A WAY WHICH LOSES THE SUPPORT OF THE LIBERALS IN LEGCO (WITHOUT NECESSARILY WINNING THAT OF OTHER GROUPS) AND PROVOKES SERIOUS CRITICISM IN WESTMINSTER.

WINNING THE BATTLE IN LEGCO BUT LOSING THE WAR, BY TRIGGERING CHINESE HOSTILITY AND NON-COOPERATION FOR THE

REMAINING YEARS OF BRITISH RULE.

8. SOME DIFFICULT JUDGEMENTS WILL BE NEEDED IN DUE COURSE. BUT FOR THE PRESENT, THE GOVERNOR AND I CONSIDER THAT WE SHOULD PROCEED AS FOLLOWS.

9. THE GOVERNOR SHOULD PUT DRAFT LEGISLATION TO LEGCO AS PLANNED IN FEBRUARY. THE MAIN PROPOSALS SHOULD BE UNCHANGED, TO SUSTAIN LIBERAL SUPPORT. THE GOVERNOR PROPOSES TO MAKE ONE FAIRLY MODEST CHANGE: ALLOWING DISTRICT BOARDS AND MUNICIPAL COUNCILS TO CO-OPT LOCAL WORTHIES AS NON-VOTING ADVISERS. THIS WOULD BE POPULAR IN THE COMMUNITY. THE GOVERNOR HAS ALSO CONSIDERED THE IDEA OF ADOPTING A PROPOSAL PUT FORWARD IN HONG KONG THAT VOTERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE EITHER IN A GEOGRAPHICAL OR FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY BUT NOT CAS AT PRESENT) IN BOTH. BUT THIS WOULD BE OPPOSED BY AT LEAST SOME OF THE LIBERALS. THE GOVERNOR CONCLUDES THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THIS CHANGE TO BE PUT FORWARD DURING LEGCO DISCUSSION.

10. THE GOVERNOR SHOULD ALSO CONTINUE TO WELCOME ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS FROM LEGCO MEMBERS, AND TO MAKE CLEAR THAT HE AND WE

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