TNAG-2987-FCO40-3573-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-talks-betwee-1992 — Page 42

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SECRET

SECRET

FM PEKING

TO DESKBY 02083OZ FCOLN

TELNO 1349

OF 020302Z OCTOBER 92

AND TO DESKBY 02060OZ HONG KONG

INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG

Tur COPY Q DIST?

Con/Cuina

1015040)

MDHIAN 1581

MÁS AZ/G нав

PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HKD FROM AMBASSADOR

HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR

UKREP JLG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY

35

(36

YOUR TELNOS 777 AND 778: HONG KONG: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1. I HAVE NOT YET BEEN ASKED TO CALL ON LU PING. IF I AM, IT SEEMS MOST LIKELY TO BE OVER THE COMING WEEKEND: SUNDAY 4 OCTOBER IS SUPPOSED TO BE A NORMAL WORKING DAY FOR CHINESE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AFTER THE NATIONAL DAY HOLIDAY.

2. IF I AM SUMMONED, AND ASSUMING THAT LU'S MESSAGE IS ON THE LINES THE GOVERNOR ANTICIPATES (WHICH I THINK HIGHLY PROBABLE) I WILL DRAW ON THE POINTS IN PARA 2 OF HONG KONG TELNO 2427, AS MODIFIED BY PARA 2 OF YOUR FIRST TUR.

3.

I HAVE NO DIFFICULTY WITH THE SUBSTENCE OF THE DRAFT FOR A CONSIDERED RESPONSE TO THE ANTICIPATED CHINESE DEMARCHE IN YOUR SECOND TUR. HOW MUCH OF IT WILL NEED TO BE USED WILL CLEARLY DEPEND ON THE THRUST OF THEIR ARGUMENTS. (I WOULD NOT, FOR EXAMPLE, EXPECT A REQUEST TO DELAY THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH WHICH THE CHINESE WILL KNOW IS NOT POSSIBLE). IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT THEY WILL COMPLAIN THAT:-

-

THE GOVERNOR IS MAKING TOO MANY UNNECESSARY CHANGES:

SOME OF THESE CHANGES ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE TERMS OF THE BASIC LAW (WHICH IT IS FOR THEM TO INTERPRET) OR AT LEAST WITH ITS SPIRIT:

THE GOVERNOR SHOULD REFRAIN FROM PUBLICISING DETAILED PROPOSALS FOR THE 1995 ELECTIONS IN ADVANCE OF THE NECESSARY CONSULTATIONS WITH THE CHINESE SIDE

4.

I HAVE REPORTED WHAT LI PENG SAID TO SIR E HEATH ABOUT HONG

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