TNAG-2734-FCO40-3942-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-1993 — Page 69

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FM PEKING

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INFO DESKBY 19083OZ HONG KONG

INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG

1.9. Legla

074730 MDHIAN 4083

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HONG KONG TELNO 435: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT ETC

1. IT WILL BE AWKWARD IF THE ONLY PRACTICAL DATE FOR INTRODUCING THE DRAFT LEGISLATION INTO LEGCO IS 31 MARCH. THIS IS THE LAST DAY OF THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS SESSION, WHEN FINAL SPEECHES AND THE CLOSING CEREMONY ALWAYS STRIKE A TRIUMPHALIST AND NATIONALISTIC NOTE. CHINESE LEADERS WOULD BE LIKELY TO CONCLUDE THAT THE COINCIDENCE WAS DELIBERATELY PROVOCATIVE: THEY WOULD BE DULY PROVOKED AND MIGHT WELL LASH OUT, DEMONSTRATING TO DOMESTIC OPINION THAT CHINA IS NOT IMPOTENT. THEY WOULD HAVE TIME TO PREPARE THEIR MOVE (EG THROUGH LEAKS OF ANY EXCO DECISION ON THE DATE OF INTRODUCTION). WE WOULD HAVE MORE HOPE OF KEEPING THE LID ON THINGS AND GRADUALLY BRINGING THE CHINESE TO SEE THEM IN PERSPECTIVE IF SOME WAY COULD BE FOUND TO DELAY THE INTRODUCTION FOR A WEEK OR SO. IS THERE ANY POSSIBILITY OF LEGCO PROLONGING ITS SESSION FOR A FEW MORE DAYS SO THAT THE DRAFT LEGISLATION COULD BE INTRODUCED (SUBJECT TO DEVELOPMENTS) IN THE WEEK BEGINNING 5 APRIL?

2. I AGREE WITH THE GOVERNOR THAT WE WOULD GET NOWHERE WITH A GENERAL APPROACH TO THE CHINESE ABOUT ECONOMIC ISSUES. THEY WOULD SIMPLY REPLY, AS THEY DID AT LAST DECEMBER'S JLG, THAT WE HAVE UNDERMINED THE BASIS FOR CO-OPERATION AND THAT UNTIL WE RE-ESTABLISH OUR CREDIBILITY THERE IS NO POINT IN MAKING AGREEMENTS WITH US. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT PUTTING THE ISSUES ONE BY ONE IN THE USUAL FORA WILL OCCASIONALLY GET POSITIVE RESPONSES - PARTICULARLY WHEN THE PROJECTS CONCERNED ARE POPULAR OR OBVIOUSLY ESSENTIAL AND WHEN COMPANIES WITH GOOD LINKS TO CHINA ARE INVOLVED. WE CAN CERTAINLY TRY THIS APPROACH.

3.

YOU MAY WISH TO CONSIDER FURTHER WHETHER THERE WOULD BE PRESENTATIONAL ADVANTAGE IN OUR PROPOSING THAT THE JLG SHOULD MEET THIS SPRING, AS ORIGINALLY ENVISAGED, TO TRY TO TAKE FORWARD ECONOMIC AND LEGAL BUSINESS. WE COULD SAY THAT FOR OUR PART WE WOULD BE HAPPY FOR THE JLG TO DISCUSS THE ELECTORAL QUESTIONS BUT THAT IF THE CHINESE REMAINED UNWILLING WE WOULD BE CONTENT FOR

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