CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO
TO IMMEDIATE PEKING
TELNO 732
OF 171742Z SEPTEMBER 92
CONFIDENTIAL
MA3 012/6
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
pn. Constit Depot
(Chinese dimension -newfile -new file
040267
MDHOAN 0962
Miss Saysde 19/9
Xina.
PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR FROM RICKETTS, HKD
HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR PS/GH AND SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS
UKREP JLG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY
گا
YOUR TELNO 1291: CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES: SECRETARY OF STATE'S SPEAKING NOTE
1.
THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS IN TUR. A NUMBER OF THEM HAD ALREADY CROPPED UP IN DISCUSSION OF THE TEXT IN HONG KONG AND LATER HERE. IT HAS ALSO BEEN DISCUSSED BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE GOVERNOR. WE HAVE TAKEN ON BOARD SOME
OF YOUR DRAFTING POINTS IN A FURTHER REVISED VERSION WHICH WE HAVE NOW PUT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE: COPY FOLLOWS BY FAX FOR ALL ADDRESSEES. I WANTED TO EXPLAIN WHY WE HAVE NOT INCORPORATED
ALL OF THEM.
2.
ON YOUR PARA 2, WE AGREE THAT THE SPEAKING NOTE MUST BE CAPABLE OF BEING USED AS IT STANDS, AND OF BEING UNDERSTOOD BY THE CHINESE SIDE. WE HAVE ARRANGED FOR Y S CHIU TO BE PRESENT AS THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S INTERPRETER, TO ENSURE THAT THE CHINESE SIDE GET A FULL AND ACCURATE INTERPRETATION.
3
ON YOUR PARA 3, WE THINK IT WILL BE IMPORTANT TO MAKE AS CLEAR AS POSSIBLE TO THE CHINESE SIDE THAT NONE OF THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS (EXCEPT OF COURSE THE POINT ABOUT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS) IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE BASIC LAW. EVEN IN THE CASE OF MATTERS WHICH ARE SOLELY FOR DECISION BY US, WE THINK IT IMPORTANT TO RUB HOME THE MESSAGE TO THE CHINESE THAT THE GOVERNOR'S DECISIONS DO NOT CONTRAVENE WHAT THE BASIC LAW WILL STIPULATE WHEN IT ENTERS INTO FORCE. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS IS SUCH A CENTRAL FEATURE OF THE PACKAGE THAT THE POINT BEARS REPETITION. BUT WE TAKE THE POINT THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHOULD NOT REFER TO PROPOSALS 'AS LAID DOWN IN THE BASIC LAW'.
4. WE WOULD PREFER TO LEAVE THE PRESENTATION IN TIRETS 5-6 MUCH
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