TNAG-2987-FCO40-3573-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-talks-betwee-1992 — Page 49

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MDHOAN 171

DIFFERENT CONCLUSIONS. THEY ALSO TAKE ACCOUNT OF CHINESE CONCERNS ABOUT THE APPOINTMENT OF CERTAIN PERSONALITIES TO EXCO:

(ALTHOUGH WE HOPE THAT IN HANDLING THESE PERSONALITIES, THE

CHINESE SIDE WILL BEAR IN MIND THE ADVANTAGES OF AVOIDING HEAD-ON CONFRONTATION WITH THEM

THE PROPOSALS WHICH THE GOVERNOR WILL BE ANNOUNCING ON THE 1995 FOR ELECTIONS ARE EXPLICITLY SUBJECT TO DISCUSSION WITH THE CHINESE

SIDE. IN DEVELOPING THEM, THE GOVERNOR AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAVE PAID CAREFUL ATTENTION TO THE TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW. AS THE CHINESE SIDE KNOW, WE FAVOUR A CHANGE IN THE BASIC LAW TO PERMIT AN INCREASED NUMBER OF DIRECTLY-ELECTED LEGCO SEATS IN 1995. WITH THAT SOLE EXCEPTION, ALL THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE TERMS OF THE

BASIC LAW AS AT PRESENT DRAFTED]

THE GOVERNOR LOOKS FORWARD TO A FULL DISCUSSION OF HIS PROPOSALS DURING HIS VISIT TO PEKING. HE WISHES TO ESTABLISH A CLOSE AND COOPERATIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH LU PING AND CHINESE LEADERS. WE WOULD URGE THE CHINESE SIDE TO AVOID TAKING FIRM POSITIONS IN PUBLIC ON THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS IN ADVANCE OF THOSE TALKS

HURD

YYYY

ΜΑΙΝ

.HK POLICY

HKD

PUSD

63

DISTRIBUTION

67

PLANNERS

RAD

PS

FED

LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT

.AND MS BROOKS

NEWS D

PS/MR GOODLAD

SIR J COLES

MR APPLEYARD MR HUM

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