TNAG-2731-FCO40-3937-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1993 — Page 101

Sir J Coles

PS/Mr Goodlad

Private Secretary

SECRET

низ

41:15 012/1

DY

- 3 FLO 1010

STRY

Taken

FROM: P F Ricketts

Hong Kong Department

DATE:

2 February 1993

CC:

Mr Davies, FED

Mr Wye, RAD

File

HONG KONG:

PROBLEM

1.

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Follow-up to the decision taken by the Executive Council in Hong Kong on 2 February to table the Governor's proposals essentially unamended, but to give the Chinese one last chance

to respond to our offer of talks.

RECOMMENDATION

2.

(i) That Sir R McLaren should, as the Governor proposed

in ExCo, speak to the Chinese as soon as possible to remind them that an answer to our earlier approach is

still outstanding, and to let them know of ExCo's

intention to publish the proposals on 12 February;

(ii) In slightly slower time, a message from the Secretary of State to the Chinese Foreign Minister,

which would be handed over at the same time as an

advance copy of the draft legislation. I am clearing a draft overnight with Hong Kong and Peking, and will submit together with a Private Secretary letter to No 10

on 3 February.

BACKGROUND

3

ExCo have now had three discussions of the Governor's electoral proposals. Originally, there was some inclination to amend the proposal on the Election Committee before tabling

in LegCo.

SECRET