TNAG-2735-FCO40-3943-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-1993 — Page 124

UNCLASSIFIED

123343

MDHIAN 3084

ANY UNDERSTANDING REACHED WITH CHINA WILL REQUIRE LEGISLATION IN ORDER TO SET IN PLACE THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1994/95. LEGCO WILL HAVE FULL OPPORTUNITY TO SCRUTINISE THE DRAFT LEGISLATION PUT BEFORE IT.

(II) ON THE CONSEQUENCES OF LEGCO AMENDING THE DRAFT LEGISLATION:

WHAT MR GOODLAD WAS QUOTED AS SAYING WAS A HIGHLY HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION:

CANNOT IMAGINE THAT WE WOULD PUT TO LEGCO PROPOSALS WHICH WE DO NOT THINK LEGCO WOULD ACCEPT:

CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS REGARDING LEGISLATION IS VERY CLEAR: LEGISLATORS THEMSELVES WOULD BE AWARE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF AMENDING DRAFT LEGISLATION TO BE PUT BEFORE IT: AND

-

- OUR HOPE IS THAT AT THE END OF THE TALKS WE WILL GET A SETTLEMENT WHICH WILL BE FULLY DEBATED IN HONG KONG AND WHICH WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO HONG KONG.

3. WE SEE LITTLE POINT IN OUR GETTING INTO ANY PUBLIC ARGUMENT OVER MISQUOTED STATEMENTS. THERE IS HOWEVER AN OFF CHANCE THAT THE PRO-CHINA PRESS WOULD MAKE A FUSS ABOUT THIS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS.

PATTEN

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

.HK POLICY

65

DISTRIBUTION

72

NTCD

HKD

PUSD

FED

LEGAL ADVISERS//MS

BARRETT

LEGAL ADVISERS//MISS BROOKS

LEGAL ADVISERS//MR GILES

NEWS D

PLANNERS

RAD

PS

PS/MR GOODLAD

SIR J COLES

MR HUM

ADDITIONAL

7

CAOFF//SIR R BRAITHWAITE (DIO)

CAOFF//MISS NEVILLE-JONES

CAOFF //MR SIBSON

PS NO 10

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