TNAG-2987-FCO40-3573-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-talks-betwee-1992 — Page 89

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

170941

REFERRED TOCMR RICKETTS) FOR DIST ADVICE NON SUGGESTED -/PRC

LNMDAN 253 PEHPAN 2655

CONFIDENTIAL

DD 17093OZ FCOLN

FM PEKIN TO FCOLN

170908Z SEP GRS 1062

CONFIDENTIAL

FM PEKING

TO DESKBY 17093OZ FCO

TELNO 1291

OF 170908Z SEPTEMBER 92

INFO DESKBY 17093OZ HONG KONG

INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG

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Коры Proposats (Chinese diperin)

PERSONAL FOR RICKETTS, HONG KONG DEPARTMENT HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR PS/GOVERNOR

UKREP JLG HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY

RICKETTS' FAX OF 16 SEPTEMBER: SECRETARY OF STATE'S SPEAKING NOTE

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE DRAFT SPEAKING NOTE FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S MEETING WITH

1.

QIAN QICHEN ON 25 SEPTEMBER. WORKING ON THE REVISED DRAFT IN YOUR FAX OF 16 SEPTEMBER, WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING GENERAL COMMENTS ON THE APPROACH.

2.

ALTHOUGH WE UNDERSTAND WHY YOU HAVE TRIED TO INCLUDE DETAILED EXPLANATIONS IN MANY OF THE POINTS IN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S BRIEF WE AGREE THERE WOULD BE ADVANTAGE IN SHORTENING AND SIMPLIFYING IT. MUCH OF THE SUBSTANCE IS COMPLICATED AND WILL BE NEW BOTH TO QIAN QICHEN AND TO HIS INTERPRETER (WHO MAY WELL BE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE SUBJECT MATTER). THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL WANT TO PUT THE MESSAGE IN HIS OWN WAY, BUT THE POINTS SHOULD BE CAPABLE OF BEING USED AS THEY STAND. SHORT CLEAR SENTENCES ARE BEST: WE WANT TO AVOID MISUNDERSTANDINGS. THIS APPLIES IN PARTICULAR TO TIRETS 5 AND 6 OF YOUR REVISED DRAFT. WE HAVE SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR REDRAFTING IN PARAS 5 · 16 BELOW.

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IT WEAKENS OUR CASE TO INCLUDE IN SOME PARAGRAPHS WORDING ABOUT THE PROPOSALS NOT INVOLVING CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE AND BEING CONSISTENT WITH THE BASIC LAW WHILE OMITTING THEM IN OTHERS. WE THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER TO LEAVE OUT ALL THE REFERENCES IN THE DETAILED TIRETS AND TO ADD A NEW SENTENCE (FOR EXAMPLE, INSTEAD OF THE 1ST SENTENCE OF TIRET 19) TO SAY 1- NONE OF THESE PROPOSALS INVOLVES ANY CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE, NOR IN OUR VIEW ARE THEY INCONSISTENT WITH THE BASIC LAW'' IN ANY CASE, MANY OF THE PROPOSALS DEAL WITH MATTERS WHICH WE CONSIDER ARE SOLELY FOR DECISION BY US. THERE IS NO NEED TO ARGUE THAT THEY ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE BASIC LAW. WE SHOULD CERTAINLY NOT SAY THAT A PROPOSAL IS

''AS LAID DOWN IN THE BASIC LAW: THE CHINESE ARE THE GUARDIANS AND INTERPRETERS OF THE BASIC LAW AND SAYING THIS INVITES THEM TO CHALLENGE US.

4.

WE HAVE THE FOLLOWING DETAILED COMMENTS.

5. TIRET 3: BEFORE EMBARKING ON THE DESCRIPTION OF DETAIL WE SUGGEST EXPANDING THIS TIRET BY ADDING THE FOLLOWING TWO SENTENCES:

THE GOVERNOR WILL BE ANNOUNCING SOME DECISIONS, WHICH I WILL DESCRIBE BRIEFLY, ON MATTERS WHICH ARE FOR THE BRITISH

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rejected.

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