CONFIDENTIAL
1.9. Constit dept
(Свитя
044375
MDHIAN 9820
HAS OTOP COPY
Q DIST?
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO DESKBY 21073OZ FCO
TELNO
1302
OF 210511Z SEPTEMBER 92
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
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HONG KONG TELNOS 2353 AND 2354 AND MY TELNO 1389 TO HONG KONG: CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES: MESSAGE TO LU PING
1. I SHOULD BE HAPPY TO HAND OVER THE TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE ON THE MORNING OF 26 SEPTEMBER. TO ENSURE THAT ONE OF THE DEPUTY DIRECTORS-GENERAL IS AVAILABLE TO SEE ME IN LU PING'S ABSENCE, I PROPOSE TO PUT IN FOR AN APPOINTMENT ON THURSDAY 24 SEPTEMBER. SATURDAYS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING DAYS IN GOVERNMENT OFFICES HERE, BUT SENIOR PEOPLE ARE SOMETIMES A BIT THIN ON THE GROUND.
2. I AM CONTENT WITH THE TEXT OF THE MESSAGE IN SECOND HONG KONG TUR, BUT HAVE ONE MINOR SUGGESTION. THE FIRST SENTENCE OF PARAGRAPH 15 SAYS (AS DOES THE EQUIVALENT SENTENCE IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S SPEAKING NOTE THAT ALL THESE PROPOSALS 'ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE BASIC LAW'. I CONTINUE TO THINK THAT THIS IS GOING A BIT FAR. TO MY MIND USE OF THE PHRASE 'IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE BL SUGGESTS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS REFLECT SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THE BASIC LAW, WHICH IS NOT THE CASE. COULD WE NOT SAY THAT THE PROPOSALS ARE 'CONSISTENT' WITH THE TERMS OF THE BASIC LAW RATHER THAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEM ?
3. YOUR PROPOSAL FOR AMENDING THE END OF THE MESSAGE TAKES CARE OF MY POINT ABOUT NOT PUTTING TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON THE DEADLINE.
MCLAREN
YYYY
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