TNAG-2748-FCO40-3963-Visits-by-Chris-Patten--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-other-coun-1993 — Page 18

1 HUB 029

RECE

CONFIDENTIAL

RY

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

21

1343

IND

GISTRY Aucun Taken

TOP COPY NOT?

TO DESKBY 13133OZ FCP

TELNO 1605

OF 131208Z OCTOBER 93

میرها

INFO IMMEDIATE FRANKFURT, BONN, AMSTERDAM, THE HAGUE, PARIS INFO IMMEDIATE BRUSSELS

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

(44)

147175

MDHIAN 8962

126

Brussels Please pass to Williamson

Our Telno 1202 : Governor's Visit to Europe: November 1993

Summary

1.

Given the state reached in the Sino-British negotiations on constitutional development in Hong Kong, I have concluded that I must return to Hong Kong after my meeting with Ministers in London in the week 8-13 November and not proceed on to Europe for the following week. I will ask Anson Chan, the Chief Secretary designate, to take over my original visit programme as far as possible. I very much regret the necessity for this change in my plans and would be grateful for assistance of posts in explaining the situation to those involved in the host countries.

Detail

2. FCO guidance telno 36 has already described the state that has been reached in the talks with China about electoral arrangements for Hong Kong. Given the lack of progress so far and the time pressure we are now coming under to introduce the complex electoral Legislation required and to make all the administrative preparations necessary in order to conduct elections in 1994/95 we will, in November, be in the closing stage of our negotiation with China. We will also have to decide at the same time how to present any proposals to the Legislative Council should the negotiations with China fail to bear fruit. I shall return to London for a meeting of OPD (K) and consultation with the Prime Minister, Secretary of State and other Ministers, to take stock of the situation and consider the way forward. Concern in the community will be high. I am convinced that I shall have to return to Hong Kong following the meetings in London to handle that concern and to help steer any last minute developments in the negotiations.

1

PAGE

CONFIDENTIAL