TNAG-2734-FCO40-3942-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-1993 — Page 184

SECRET

HKB

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 15080OZ FCO

TELNO 234

RECE

C

INDER

OF 160646Z FEBRUARY 93

INFO DESKBY 15080OZ PEKING

INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG

F

012/3

IN SCISTRY

MAR 1993

p.w. R. Leglo (172)

MDHIAN 9658

11

FA

PEGISTRY Norton Takai

Total Squades (or)

Als

FROM GOVERNOR FOR HUM, AUSS.

YOUR TELNO 120: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE.

1. THE CHINESE WILL WANT TO GO IN FOR A LOT OF THEORISING AT THE START OF TALKS. WE WILL WANT TO AVOID IT AND PRESS THEM FROM THE OUTSET FOR SPECIFIC PROPOSALS. IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THEREFORE THAT THE TALKS OPEN ON AN ENTIRELY NON-PREJUDICIAL BASIS. I SUGGEST THAT OUR RESPONSE TO QIAN'S MESSAGE SHOULD BE TO NOTE THE CHINESE APPROACH TO THE TALKS (NOT/NOT THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE BASIS FOR TALKS · PARA 3 OF TUR) AND SAY THAT IN OUR VIEW THE AIM SHOULD BE TO AGREE PRACTICAL ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1994/95 FOR PASSING TO LEGCO, WHICH WILL HAVE TO ENACT THEM.

G

2. NCNA HAVE BEEN BRIEFING THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND, WHICH QUITE FRANKLY MAKES A MOCKERY OF THE CHINESE REQUEST FOR SECRECY. WE ARE REPORTING DETAILS SEPARATELY. IT WOULD NOW BE IMPOSSIBLE TO DELAY AN ANNOUNCEMENT FOR MORE THAN A DAY OR TWO. I THINK IT IS MOST IMPORTANT THAT THE AMBASSADOR SHOULD CONTACT LU PING LATER TODAY TO ASK TO SEE HIM EARLY ON 16 FEBRUARY ABOUT THE PRESS REPORTS OVER THE WEEKEND. IF NECESSARY HE CAN SAY THAT WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN THAT NCNA HAVE BRIEFED AT LEAST THE EXPRESS AND ECONOMIC JOURNAL. ON 16 FEBRUARY I RECOMMEND THAT THE AMBASSADOR SHOULD TELL LU OF THE GENERAL TERMS IN WHICH WE PLAN TO ANNOUNCE TALKS, (I.E. ONLY PARA 1 OF THE TEXT IN MY TELNO 227 THE REST IS AFTER ALL GLOSS) AND ADD THAT IF WE ARE TO AVOID HAVING TO GAZETTE LEGISLATION ON 19 FEBRUARY AN URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT IS

NECESSARY. WE THEREFORE PLAN THE PRESS RELEASE ON 17 FEBRUARY.

3. THE TALKS SHOULD GET UNDERWAY AS SOON AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT AS POSSIBLE. I SUGGEST A STARTING DATE OF 24 FEBRUARY AND PUTTING

THIS IN THE ANNOUNCEMENT. WE SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE NAMES OF THE DELEGATION TO SHOW THAT THERE WILL BE GOOD HONG KONG REPRESENTATION. I HAVE NOW DISCUSSED THE QUESTION OF GALSWORTHY'S