TNAG-2739-FCO40-3953-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development--through-tra-1993 — Page 14

SECRET

Foreign & Commonwealth

Office

BY FAX

16 November 1993

file

London SWIA 2AH

Telephone: 071-

4KB 012/7 1

30

N J Cox Esq PEKING

Dear Nigel,

REC

SY

TALKS ON 1994/95 ELECTIONS: - THROUGH TRAIN OATH

1.

We promised you a detailed reply to your letter of 10 November on this subject, which we have discussed with Shelagh Brooks. The following comments therefore incorporate her views.

i)

In your paragraph 2 b), you ask whether "Observe and uphold" would be more logical than "uphold and observe". Shelagh preferred the latter since it was the order in which the two acts would be done.

ii) We also prefer (your 2 c)) the phrase "uphold the resumption of sovereignty" to "support" since the latter we felt implied a more positive stance from the oath-giver.

iii) While "an inalienable part" does sound a little like rhetoric, we were unable to identify any clear down-side to the inclusion of this phrase;

iv) While we could refer to the JD directly (your para 2 g), the BL does of course itself refer to the JD so we doubt that there is any point in expending negotiating effort to get your phrase in.

2.

I think that the other points you referred to were either dealt with in our telegram or have been rendered obsolete by further exchanges with Hong Kong (although Shelagh felt that reference to unlawful subversion of the PRC would beg the question of what might constitute lawful subversion).

Lt.cox16.FUTURE

JEB

Ye

ever

Bever..

PF Ricketts

Hong Kong Department

cc: P Lai Esq, CAB Hong Kong

SECRET