TNAG-2732-FCO40-3938-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1993 — Page 92

CONFIDENTIAL

HKB 012/1

STRY

7 April 1993

RECE

PA

REGISTRY Aaron Talen

ik

Dean, Foderve

自

HUD Con serpt

Foreign & Commonwealth

Office

Sen.

105

London SWLA ZAH

M.

jybini ither faiths 13/14

HONG KONG

The Governor is lunching with the Prime Minister on 13 April. You asked for an update on recent developments and any points which the Governor might want to raise.

The Foreign Secretary will hold a thorough discussion of the way forward on Hong Kong with the Governor on the morning of 16 April. Sir Robin McLaren may also be present. The Foreign Secretary and the Governor will then be seeing the Prime Minister at 1430 on 16 April and will, therefore, be able to report any operational conclusions to him then, as well as discuss the issue of arrangements in 1997 for Her Majesty's Overseas Civil Servants, on which we will send a separate briefing letter. We expect that the Governor will therefore see the earlier lunch on 13 April as an opportunity for general discussion.

The issue of the 1995 Legislative Council (LegCo) elections and our row with China continues to dominate political debate in Hong Kong. The present position is as follows:

the Governor has published draft legislation embodying his proposals, but has not introduced this into LegCo;

statements from the Chinese leadership during their National People's Congress indicated that they are still open to talks with us (on their terms) but that introduction of the legislation into LegCo would mark a decisive parting of the ways. Meanwhile they have decided to set up a "preparatory working body" to prepare for 1997; but this has been presented in a low profile way and reactions in Hong Kong have been calm;

the community in Hong Kong, including all sides in LegCo, want to see Sino/British talks. This reflects an optimistic assumption that the present problems would be resolved if talks could be held. The status of Hong Kong Government participants is not seen as an issue which should prevent talks;

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