TNAG-2731-FCO40-3937-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1993 — Page 99

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state of mistrust that we could then find it

difficult to manage the subsequent debate and to

obtain their support for any future Government

proposals (e.g. the budget) of a controversial

nature.

(c)

Any amendment to the draft bill to cater for the sort

of amendments to our EC proposals favoured by some

Members would take a long time. This would prolong

for the community the current unsatisfactory state of

non-cooperation in Sino-British

uncertainty

relations.

and

(d) Until we are

reasonably

clear on the shape of

amendments (if any) that might be favoured by the

LegCo on the entire package of our proposals, it

would be difficult to predict whether changing one

aspect of our proposals would destroy the integrity

of the whole package. For example, the more favoured

method of amending our EC proposals crucially depends

on the shape of the 9 new FCs which the LegCo might

be prepared to pass. It would clearly be best if we

could take a more considered view on what amendments

might be more acceptable to the Chinese, to the

community and to the LegCo in the light of the debate

in the months ahead; and then possibly introduce such

amendments ourselves.

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