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Action Taken
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141652 MDHOAN 8478
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELNO 102
OF 051715Z FEB 93
ra.
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
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YOUR TELNO 176: LEGCO QUESTION:
"
CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
1. WE WOULD SUGGEST INCORPORATING A NUMBER OF THE STRONG POINTS IN THE SUPPLEMENTARIES INTO THE FIRST SENTENCE AND THE FIRST PART OF THE SECOND SENTENCE OF THE DRAFT REPLY IN TUR. IT WOULD THEN READ QUOTE THE GOVERNOR AND MINISTERS HAVE MADE CLEAR THAT THERE WILL BE NO SECRET DEALS. THE CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION IN IS ANY CASE CLEAR. THE ELECTIONS IN 1994/5 WILL HAVE TO BE HELD ON THE BASIS OF LAWS ENACTED BY THIS COUNCIL. IF THERE WERE TO BE DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA RESULTING IN AN UNDERSTANDING THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS WOULD...UNQUOTE.
2.
THERE MAY BE A SUPPLEMENTARY FROM THE PRO-CHINA ANGLE, EG THE CONSISTENCY OF THIS APPROACH WITH THE BASIC LAW OR A CLAIM THAT WE ARE ABANDONING EXECUTIVE LED GOVERNMENT. WE SUGGEST THAT YOU INCLUDE A SUPPLEMENTARY MAKING THE POINT THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ENACTING LEGISLATION FOR THE ELECTIONS ARE NOT ONLY CONSTITUTIONALLY CORRECT NOW, BUT ARE ALSO CONSISTENT WITH ARTICLE 2 OF ANNEX 2 TO THE BASIC LAW.
3.
INCIDENTALLY, IT IS STRANGE THAT A CRC MEMBER IS ASKING THIS QUESTION WHICH DOES NOT SIT EASILY WITH THEIR POSITION THAT WE SHOULD HAVE CONSULTED THE CHINESE BEFORE MAKING YOUR PROPOSALS PUBLIC.
HURD
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