TNAG-2987-FCO40-3573-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-talks-betwee-1992 — Page 67

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CONFIDENTIAL

FROM: c HA3 017/6

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DATE: 23 September 1992

Mr Galsworthy

Mr Ehrman

Mr Davies, FED

(22)

Ich seat.

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Mr Ricketts, HKD

HONG KONG: CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES

1. We spoke briefly about the implications of the delay in the Governor's visit to Peking. There is one point arising from this which I suggest you might discuss with Mr Galsworthy and Mr Ehrman. By the time you emerge from your meeting I shall be away from the office (and also for much of the rest of the day).

2. It seems to me that the greatly increased interval between the Governor's LegCo address and his visit to Peking to explain his proposals carries a considerable risk. Despite the distractions of the Party Congress, the Chinese will have time to brood on the implications of the Governor's proposals and to decide how much they dislike them. They may be tempted to express their hostility in public, or to signal it in other ways, before the Governor has been able to exercise his powers of persuasion on them. And once the Chinese have taken a publicly hostile position it will of course be very much more difficult to have any sort of reasonable discussion with them. 3. There is probably not a lot which can be done to lessen this risk. But I think we should do what we can through the Secretary of State's meeting with Qian and the Governor's message to Lu Ping. I suggest that we need to expand the penultimate tiret of the Secretary of State's speaking note (and the equivalent passage in the Governor's message) on something like the following lines:

The Governor plans to discuss his proposals fully with the Chinese side when he visits Peking from 21-23 October. As you know he had hoped to do this very shortly after his address to the Legislative Council. His visit will now be delayed at your request, because of the Party Congress. But I hope you will still await your discussions with the Governor before you form your view about what he is proposing."

4. If you agree with this I should be grateful if you could prepare a telegram to the Governor making this suggestion. I shall be in the office for a few minutes before 1500 and again shortly before 1730.

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CO Hum

CONFIDENTIAL