RESTRICTED
39
137466
MDHIAN 6217
RESTRICTED
FM SINGAPORE
TO DESKBY 06130OZ FCO
TELNO 83
OF 061021Z APRIL 93
AND TO DESKBY 07083OZ HONG KONG, JLG HONG KONG
FROM PS/MR GOODLAD
pa
LKY
(or int supit
no 1993
MEETING BETWEEN MR GOODLAD AND LEE KUAN YEW: 6 APRIL,
SUMMARY
1993
tite)
기사
1/4 DB5.
1. LEE KUAN YEW ARGUES THERE IS NO PROFIT IN CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE IN HONG KONG. AN ARGUMENT BETWEEN CHINA AND THE US WOULD BE ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS FOR THE REGION. DUBIOUS THAT DEMOCRATIC INSTINCTS WILL PERSIST IN HONG KONG AFTER 1997. MR GOODLAD SETS OUT THE UK POSITION.
DETAIL
j
2. MR GOODLAD SPENT AN HOUR WITH THE SENIOR MINISTER ON 6 APRIL. LKY WAS FRIENDLY BUT ROBUST AND GAVE NO GROUND. THE FOLLOWING IS AN ACCOUNT OF THE DISCUSSION ON HONG KONG: A NOTE ON OTHER ISSUES COVERED FOLLOWS BY BAG.
3.
MR GOODLAD ASKED WHAT ADVICE HE SHOULD PASS ON TO THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG. LKY SAID HE HAD NO ADVICE. HE WAS BEWILDERED. HE HAD ASKED THE GOVERNOR LAST YEAR WHAT HAD CHANGED IN HONG KONG TO MAKE HIS CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS NECESSARY BUT RECEIVED NO ANSWER. IN REALITY NOTHING HAD CHANGED. THERE WAS NO PROFIT IN THE GOVERNOR'S CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS. PERHAPS A GREAT DEMOCRATIC REACTION COULD BE SET IN PROGRESS BUT HE DID NOT FIND THIS CREDIBLE. EVEN AFTER 34 YEARS OF ELECTIONS IN SINGAPORE, DEMOCRATIC INSTINCTS STILL DID NOT EXIST. IT WAS LEFT TO THE GOVERNMENT TO ENCOURAGE INITIATIVE.
4.
•
MR GOODLAD SAID THAT HE HAD URGED THE CHINESE TO TALK RATHER THAN ENGAGE IN MEGAPHONE DIPLOMACY. IF THEY DID NOT LIKE THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS, THEY SHOULD PRODUCE ALTERNATIVES. TALK OF CONSPIRACIES WAS PIFFLE. THE PROPOSALS WERE HARDLY A GREAT LEAP TOWARDS DEMOCRACY. LKY SAID THAT HE HAD NOT READ THE FINE PRINT. BUT THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES WOULD DILUTE THE INFLUENCE OF THOSE WHO CONTROLLED BUSINESS. FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCUES WERE BEING TURNED INTO A GENERAL CONSTITUENCY.
HE
PAGE RESTRICTED
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07 APR 1993
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