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MDLIAN 9639
10 Leated
12.2/1.
HONG KONG TALKS: LETTER FROM INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS
1.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF JURISTS (ICJ), MICHAEL KIRBY, HAS WRITTEN TO ME TO COMPLAIN THAT, ACCORDING TO A REPORT IN THE TIMES OF 1 JUNE, 'THE UK IN ITS CURRENT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE PRC, WILL NOT SUPPORT THE MODEST PROPOSALS OF MR PATTEN FOR WIDER REPRESENTATION OF ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG'' IN LEGCO. REFERRING BACK TO THE REPORT OF THE RECENT ICJ MISSION TO HONG KONG LED BY SIR WILLIAM GOODHART QC, KIRBY SEEKS AN ASSURANCE THAT THE UKG AND I (AS LEADER OF OUR NEGOTIATING TEAM) WILL SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS.
2.
ALTHOUGH KIRBY'S LETTER IS TENDENTIOUS, ENDING WITH COLOURFUL LANGUAGE ABOUT PUSILLANIMOUS BETRAYAL OF THE RULE OF LAW, HUMAN RIGHTS AND JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE, I THINK IT WOULD BE BEST TO REPLY BRIEFLY. IF MINISTERS HAVE ALREADY RESPONDED TO A SIMILAR LETTER I COULD USE THE SAME TEXT, WITH ANY NECESSARY ADAPTATIONS. IF NOT, AND SUBJECT TO THE DEPARTMENT'S AND HONG KONG'S VIEWS, I PROPOSE TO SEND KIRBY A COPY OF YOUR REPLY TO THE PQ FROM SIR THOMAS ARNOLD ON 10 JUNE AS THE MOST UP-TO-DATE STATEMENT OF HMG'S POSITION ON THE TALKS, AND TO ADD THAT THERE IS NO QUESTION OF THERE BEING ANY DIFFERENCE OF APPROACH BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG AND MYSELF. WE ARE ALL WORKING FOR THE SAME OBJECTIVE: TO SECURE AGREEMENT TO ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1994-95 ELECTIONS WHICH ARE FAIR, OPEN, AND ACCEPTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
3. GRATEFUL ANY COMMENTS BY 28 JUNE.
MCLAREN
YYYY
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