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Chris 6
106344
MDHOAN 1850
that all MDHOAN
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FM FCO
TO DESKBY 06010OZ PEKING
TELNO 786
OF 05132OZ OCTOBER 92
AND TO DESKBY 06010OZ HONG KONG
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
TOP COPY Q DIST?
HONG KONG TELNO 2446: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: FURTHER MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR
1. WHEN YOU HAND OVER THE MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR TO LU PING IN TUR, GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD MAKE THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL POINTS ORALLY, SUBJECT TO ANY FURTHER COMMENTS FROM THE GOVERNOR. THE PURPOSE IS TO MAKE CLEAR THAT MINISTERS ARE FOUR-SQUARE BEHIND THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS AND TO EMPHASISE AGAIN OUR COMMITMENT TO COOPERATION WITH CHINA OVER HONG KONG:
THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT IN THE CLOSEST CONSULTATION WITH MINISTERS IN LONDON. THEY REPRESENT A JOINT JUDGEMENT OF WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR EFFECTIVE, EXECUTIVE-LED BRITISH ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG UNTIL JULY 1997, AND THE GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG'S POLITICAL SYSTEM AS ENVISAGED IN THE JOINT DECLARATION. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO RESPOND TO THE CLEAR WISH OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE FOR A BROADENING OF DEMOCRACY IF CONFIDENCE, AND HENCE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY, ARE TO BE MAINTAINED IN THE INTERESTS OF A SMOOTH TRANSITION
MINISTERS ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO MAINTAINING GOOD COOPERATION WITH CHINA OVER THE HONG KONG QUESTION BASED ON DIALOGUE AND MUTUAL TRUST. THAT IS WHY THE FOREIGN SECRETARY GAVE THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER A FULL BRIEFING ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS IN NEW YORK. AS HE AND THE GOVERNOR HAVE MADE PLAIN, WE ARE GENUINE IN WISHING TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSALS FOR THE 1995 ELECTIONS WITH THE CHINESE SIDE. BUT IT IS NOT REALISTIC FOR THE GOVERNOR TO MAKE HIS FIRST POLICY ADDRESS TO LEGCO WITHOUT EXPLAINING HIS THINKING ON THESE ISSUES, WHICH HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF SO MUCH SPECULATION IN HONG KONG IN RECENT MONTHS.
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MINISTERS HOPE THAT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR THE GOVERNOR TO HAVE A FULL DISCUSSION OF HIS PROPOSALS DURING HIS VISIT TO PEKING LATER IN OCTOBER. IT WILL ASSIST THOSE DISCUSSIONS IF IN
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