TNAG-2733-FCO40-3939-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1993 — Page 78

it.lau.MORRIS

JEB

September 1993

Ms Emily Lau, Legislative Councillor Legislative Council Building

8 Jackson Road

Central

Hong Kong

Thank you for your letter of 20 September setting out your

concerns about Hong Kong.

We take seriously our responsibilities to the people of Hong Kong. But it will not surprise you to learn that I do not

share all your views on how best we can meet them.

You imply that our conduct of the talks with China to date does not match my statements at the beginning of the year, and

suggest that the Governor should now reveal the details of the

talks. I disagree. As you know, the Governor's proposals

were developed after an intensive series of consultations with a broad range of people in Hong Kong. He gave LegCo and the Hong Kong people a detailed account of the proposals we would

be making to the Chinese side, and our aim of holding

elections which are open, fair and acceptable to the people of

Hong Kong. We are aware of the clear wish of the Hong Kong

community for the talks with China to succeed. But it is wholly unrealistic to imagine that there would be any prospect

of success if the Governor were to reveal the details of what

is taking place in the talks before they have been concluded.

I am puzzled by your comments about the role of the Executive

Council. Our negotiating position has been agreed throughout

with the Governor and ExCo. I and Alastair Goodlad make a

point of consulting ExCo whenever we are in Hong Kong.

We