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174002 MOHI N 0157
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THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE ADDITIONAL OBJECTIVES IS THAT EGISLATORS ELECTED IN 1995 SHOULD BE ABLE TO STAY THROUGH TO 1999 ON THIS POINT WE CAN REST OUR CASE ON THE PAPER ON THE ELECTION COMMITTEE HANDED OVER TO THE CHINESE SIDE ON 6 FEBRUARY 1990 (AND NOW PUBLISHED) WHICH SAYS, INTER ALIA THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT'S VIEW IS THAT ONE OF THE BEST WAYS OF ENSURING A SMOOTH TRANSFER OF GOVERNMENT IN 1997 WOULD BE TO PROVIDE THAT ALL MEMBERS ELECTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN 1995 SHOULD BE ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OFFICE UNTIL 1999'. THEREFORE, IF THE CHINESE SAY THAT ANY AGREEMENT HAS TO BE BASED ON THE EXCHANGE OF LETTERS WE HAVE A STRONG ARGUMENT TO PRESS THEM TO DELIVER ON A REAL THROUGH TRAIN. I WOULD NOT TAKE ISSUE WITH THE 20 PERCENT NATIONALITY RULE, ALTHOUGH WE COULD NOT IMPLEMENT IT IN 1995. THE CHINESE WOULD HAVE TO IMPLEMENT IT IN 1997. THAT FOREIGNERS SHOULD BE LIMITED IN A PARTICULAR ASSEMBLY IS NOT WHOLLY UNREASONABLE. BUT RESTRICTIONS AS A RESULT OF PARTICULAR POLITICAL VIEWPOINTS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE.
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AN OUTCOME TO THE TALKS WHICH DELIVERED AN ACCEPTABLE ELECTED ELECTION COMMITTEE: MORE TRADITIONAL FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES WHICH NEVERTHELESS LOOKED CLEAN AND BROAD-BASED: AND A SOLID COMMITMENT TO THE THROUGH TRAIN IS OBVIOUSLY GOING TO BE EXCEPTIONALLY DIFFICULT TO DELIVER. BUT ANYTHING LESS THAN THIS IS GOING TO LOOK VERY MUCH LIKE A U-TURN AND WILL BE DIFFICULT TO SELL IN HONG KONG AND, OF COURSE, INTERNATIONALLY. AS FOR THE UK AUDIENCE YOU ARE IN A BETTER POSITION THAN I TO JUDGE WHAT IS LIKELY TO BE ACCEPTABLE BUT I WOULD EXPECT THAT THE OPPOSITION PARTIES WILL TAKE THEIR LEAD FROM THE UDHK AND OTHER LIBERALS HERE. IF THE LATTER STRONGLY ATTACK THE OUTCOME OF THE TALKS I WOULD EXPECT PARLIAMENT TO FOLLOW SUIT.
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