TNAG-2990-FCO40-3574-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-talks-betwee-1992 — Page 160

SECRET

HK BC12

ACEIVED IN REGISTRY

SECRET

FM FCO

1990

DESK OFFICER

TO DESKBY 11003OZ PEKING-

REGISTRY

Action Taken

TELNO 119

OF 091755Z FEB 90

INFO DESKBY 11003OZ HONG KONG UKREPI _G_HỒNG KONG

208

130062 MDHOAN 2843

PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR FROM MCLAREN, AUSS

(FOR HONG KONG, PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR)

(FOR UKREP JLG HONG KONG, PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY)

MIPT: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

TEXT OF MESSAGE IS AS FOLLOWS:-

BEGINS

I HAVE NOW HAD TIME TO CONSIDER FULLY YOUR MESSAGE OF 3 FEBRUARY AND THE POINTS MADE BY MR CHEN ZIYING TO SIR ALAN DONALD ON YOUR INSTRUCTIONS ON 8 FEBRUARY.

AS YOU KNOW, I ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO ACHIEVING AN UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE POLITICAL STRUCTURE AND TO RE-ESTABLISHING THE ATMOSPHERE OF MUTUAL TRUST IN WHICH OUR TWO GOVERNMENTS HAVE WORKED TOGETHER IN THE PAST TO PROMOTE HONG KONG'S STABILITY AND PROSPERITY. I RECOGNISE THAT THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE APPROACHED THIS MATTER IN THE SAME SPIRIT AND HAVE MADE SERIOUS EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY A MUTUALLY SATISFACTORY WAY FORWARD.

AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, I AM NOW PREPARED TO CONFIRM AN UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT ON THE FOLLOWING LINES. IF THE FINAL VERSION OF THE BASIC LAW PROVIDES FOR 20

DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN THE SAR LEGISLATURE IN 1997, 24 IN 1999, AND 30 IN 2003, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL BE PREPARED TO LIMIT TO 18 THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS TO BE

INTRODUCED IN 1991.

YOU WILL, HOWEVER, BE AWARE FROM MY PREVIOUS MESSAGES THAT THIS RATE OF PROGRESS IN INTRODUCING DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS

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