TNAG-2785-FCO40-4004-Hong-Kong-UK-Parliamentary-and-other-interest-in-constitutio-1993 — Page 80

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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

1993

1

DESK OFFICER

REGIST

INDEX

PA

Action Takén

"Does anyone" & Jude journalists?

مل

& 12/2

My Marie

the Bunk of

Mr Ricketts,

HKD

Oh dear

FROM:

PS/Mr Goodlad

DATE:

CC:

35 11/2

10 February 1993

PS

Sir J Coles

Mr Hum

Mr Davies, FED

CALL ON MR GOODLAD BY SIR ALAN DONALD: 9 FEBRUARY 1993

1. Sir Alan Donald called on Mr Goodlad at the Minister's invitation for a drink on 9 February. Mr Hum was also present. Sir Alan was disturbed about developments over Hong Kong but not wholly consistent in his arguments.

2. Sir Alan argued that the situation with China looked bad: there was stalemate. He could see no way forward until "something" happened (eg Deng Xiaoping's death). Otherwise the Chinese did not need to make any move until 1997, when they would dismantle anything they did not like. Ambassador Ma had identified the real beef as being that the Governor was handing over powers to "an unknown democratic group". They also objected to the lack of proper consultation.

3. Sir Alan said that the Governor had told him in December that he had been unaware of the secret exchange of letters with the Chinese in 1990 when he made his 7 October statement. Sir Alan had been furious to hear an FCO spokesman claim subsequently that there had been no agreement reached with the Chinese on democracy in 1990. The UK had broken the spirit and possibly the letter of that agreement. The Chinese were deeply suspicious of UK intentions (fuelled by the hidden agenda of various British politicians). The Minister observed that the papers showed that there had been no agreement which went beyond an understanding on directly- elected seats in 1991. The UK had made clear we would like more directly-elected seats in 1995.

4.

Concluding, Sir Alan said he would not participate in media interviews on Hong Kong. But if anyone asked him directly about his views he would have to come clean. The Official Secrets Act did not prevent him from making known his opinions.

freruuably the PSA only counts

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G.J. Deney

G J DOREY

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