CONFIDENTIAL
MDHI
130323
8523
NOR
GROUP WHICH, ACCORDING TO ANNEX II TO THE JOINT DECLARATION, ''SHALL PLAY NO PART IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG'' HAVE ''ANY SUPERVISORY ROLE OVER THAT ADMINISTRATION''.
5.
WE HAVE NO WISH TO INFLATE FURTHER THE ROW THAT IS NOW GOING ON ABOUT SUPPOSED CHANGES OF HMG'S POLICY: NOR SHOULD WE
WISH TO ADD TO CHINESE FEARS THAT MR. PATTEN INTENDS TO APPOINT MEMBERS OF UDHK TO EXCO. NEVERTHELESS, I DO NOT BELIEVE WE CAN ALLOW GUO'S REMARKS TO GO UNCHALLENGED. WE NEED TO HAVE ON THE
RECORD WITH THE CHINESE A CLEAR STATEMENT THAT EXCO APPOINTMENTS ARE A MATTER FOR THE GOVERNOR ALONE, WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
6. THE RIGHT PLACE TO DO THIS IS LONDON. I THEREFORE RECOMMEND
THAT THIS POINT SHOULD BE MADE TO THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR. AT THE SAME TIME, THE AMBASSADOR SHOULD BE TOLD THAT WE ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED THAT GUO SHOULD MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT OF THIS SORT AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE BEEN PRIVATELY TELLING THE CHINESE AT A VERY
HIGH LEVEL THAT NO DECISIONS ON A CHANGE OF POLICY OF THE SORT THEY APPARENTLY FEAR HAVE BEEN MADE. WE WILL HAVE TO CONFIRM PUBLICLY THAT WE HAVE MADE THE POINT ABOUT THE APPOINTMENTS BEING FOR THE GOVERNOR IN ORDER TO AVOID THE IMPRESSION THAT GUO'S REMARKS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO GO UNCHALLENGED IN LONDON. WE SHOULD OBVIOUSLY TRY TO DO THIS IN A WAY WHICH RAISES THE TEMPERATURE AS
LITTLE AS POSSIBLE.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
55
.HONG KONG AGREEMENT
.(RESTRICTED)
DISTRIBUTION
56
NEWS D PLANNERS
HKD
PUSD
FED//HD
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT
.AND MS BROOKS
RAD
PS/MR GOODLAD
PS/MR PATTEN
SIR J COLES
MR HUM
ADDITIONAL
1
NO 10//SIR R BRAITHWAITE
NNNN
2
PAGE
CONFIDENTIAL
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