TNAG-2991-FCO40-3566-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 86

CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO

TO DESKBY 060030Z HONG KONG

TELNO 922

OF 05173OZ JUNE 92

CONFIDENTIAL

K

Conspt. Dept.

TOP COPY Q DIST?

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

Hhe 028 / L 37 NT

PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM RICKETTS HKD

071044 MDHOAN 5503

Wins αzlz

YOUR TELNO 1459: HONG KONG: CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES

1. THE PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN SECRETARY HAVE AGREED THAT YOU SHOULD MAKE THE FOLLOWING POINTS WITH THEIR AUTHORITY, DURING YOUR TALKS IN PEKING:

-

THE ELECTION RESULT ENSURES CONTINUITY OF BRITISH POLICY TOWARDS HONG KONG. AS THE QUEEN'S SPEECH MADE CLEAR, BRITAIN'S POLICY IS BASED ON COOPERATION WITH CHINA ON THE BASIS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS MADE CLEAR SINCE 1990 THAT THEY WILL DISCUSS WITH CHINA ALL THE ISSUES INVOLVED IN THE 1995 ELECTIONS. THE CHINESE SIDE SHOULD NOT SEE THIS AS A THREAT. THE OBJECTIVE WILL BE, IF POSSIBLE, TO AGREE WITH THE CHINESE ON THE COMPONENT PARTS OF THE 1995 ELECTORAL SYSTEM SO AS TO ACHIEVE THE CONTINUITY THROUGH 1997 THAT BOTH SIDES SEEK:

THE CHINESE SIDE ARE IMAGINING CHANGES OF POLICY WHERE THERE ARE NONE. DESPITE SPECULATION IN THE PRESS, NO NEW DECISIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN.

HURD

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ΜΑΙΝ

56

.HONG KONG AGREEMENT

.(RESTRICTED)

HKD

PUSD

DISTRIBUTION

56

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PS/MR GOODLAD PS/MR PATTEN

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