TNAG-2807-FCO40-4049-Visit-by-Lord-Callaghan--former-UK-Prime-Minister--to-China--1993 — Page 26

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING

TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 675

OF 181011Z MAY 93

INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG

CONFIDENTIAL

REC

HKCC 026/13

PA

1993

Iaion Tut

TOP CO

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065462

MDHIAN 1341

PERSONAL FOR HUM, AUSS

HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR DINHAM

CALL BY LORD CALLAGHAN ON JIANG ZEMIN, 17 MAY

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LORD CALLAGHAN HAD A 90 MINUTE MEETING WITH JIANG ZEMIN ON 17 MAY. AT HIS REQUEST LORD CALLAGHAN THOUGHT I MIGHT FIND IT EMBARRASSING TO LISTEN TO SOME OF THE THINGS HE INTENDED TO SAY DID NOT ACCOMPANY HIM. LORD CALLAGHAN HAS HOWEVER GIVEN ME A RECORD OF THE CONVERSATION PREPARED BY HIS SON, MICHAEL, AND A WRITTEN NOTE OF HIS OWN IMPRESSIONS OF THE MEETING. THE TEXTS OF THESE ARE IN MY TWO IFTS.

I

2. LORD CALLAGHAN CAME TO LUNCH ON 17 MAY IMMEDIATELY BEFORE HIS TWO MEETINGS WITH JIANG ZEMIN (A CALL BY ALL VISITING MEMBERS OF

THE INTER-ACTION COUNCIL PRECEDED HIS BILATERAL MEETING). HE HAD EARLIER ASKED US TO PREPARE A SPEAKING NOTE FOR HIS POSSIBLE USE, WHICH WE DID (TEXT BY FAX TO THE DEPARTMENT AND HONG KONG). LORD

CALLAGHAN EXPRESSED THANKS AND SAID HE WOULD SPEAK BROADLY ON THE LINES WE HAD SUGGESTED, PUTTING THE POINTS IN HIS OWN WAY. BUT HE JIBBED AT A REFERENCE IN OUR NOTE TO THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS PROVIDING FOR A GRADUAL/GRADUAL INCREASE IN DEMOCRACY. IN HIS VIEW THE FIVE-FOLD (SIC) INCREASE IN THE FRANCHISE FOR THE NEW FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES WAS HARDLY GRADUAL (A POINT HE UNFORTUNATELY SEEMS TO HAVE MADE TO JIANG ZEMIN THOUGH IT DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE RECORD). I TRIED TO EXPLAIN WHY WE BELIEVED THAT THE GOVERNOR'S FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY PROPOSALS WERE CONSISTENT BOTH WITH THE PRINCIPLE OF GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT AND WITH THE BASIC LAW

BUT LORD CALLAGHAN WAS UNCONVINCED.

3. LORD CALLAGHAN QUESTIONED ME ABOUT HOW WE INTENDED TO TAKE MATTERS FORWARD IN THE TALKS. I SAID THAT WE BELIEVED WE COULD MAKE PROGRESS IF WE COULD MOVE AWAY FROM DISCUSSION OF PRINCIPLES

AND GET ON TO THE PRACTICAL DETAILS OF THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS.

THE CHINESE HAD CRITICISED THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS BUT HAD NEVER

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CONFIDENTIAL