TNAG-2781-FCO40-4000-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-Chinese-reac-1993 — Page 22

GOVERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG.

TUE 09 NOU 93 69:10

PG.08

(

(b)

SECRET

We

the

have

2

reference ā included

a smooth

and

not

dedicating oath-taker

"bringing about

to

to himself transition

we

smooth transfer of power", because assume that the oath will be taken on 1 July power will have occurred by

1997 and the

transition/transfer of

(smooth

otherwise) or

then.

(c)

We

have

not

Deng's

words

at "love :

this

stage

included

the

country and love

Hong

Kong".

The two ExCo members

are

particularly worried that

such a vague form

In

of words could be interpreted (no doubt at the behest of the CPG) to mean more or less

like.

this context, they anything David Edwards also pointed out that

Law Basic 79(7) of the Article the SAR legislature to deprive a Legco member of his seat on grounds of "breach of oath",

that

empowers

ta

hich

include too many vague expres.. would allow the SAR Legco to expel some of its

circumstances. members in dubious In addition, there is also the difficulty form of words that inclusion of such a

members would pose for the 20%

Legco who might be non-Chinese nationals.

Of

that we should leave ourselves

not put e\

include in

it was felt

fat and

us to want

at

cext

In addition, some negotiating the Chinese might we put to them.

3.

Subject to your,

and Peking's comments, we would

like to show an agreed draft to ExCo at its next meeting for deployment at the next round Grateful for early comments,

November), in time

(16

of

19 talks on

November. deskby 120100Z if possible.

4.

Grateful

if

you

could

also show the draft to

the Governor's Party, visiting.

A fome an Mobile

(Peter Lai)

Deputy Secretary for Constitutional Affairs

c.c. Mr. Nigel Cox,

British Embassy, Peking

) (By classified Fax Immediate)