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Mr Youde
Youge
clamen
Parliamentary Unit
CONFIDENTIAL
1.
Mr James Johnson MP has put down a Question for written
answer on 30 April to ask the Secretary of State what stage of
further constitutional advance he proposes for the Crown Colony
of Hong Kong.
2.
Mr Johnson has long been an advocate of limited constitutional
advance in Hong Kong. He is visiting the colony at present.
The
Governor has reported (Hong Kong telno. 448) that, in discussion
with Urban Council Members, Mr Johnson has been advocating a form
of indirect elected representation on Legislative Council by which
a proportion of the unofficial membership of the Legislative
Council would be filled by the appointment of elected members of the
Urban Council.
3.
The Governor is considering this idea among others, and has
promised us his comments on the possibility of a move towards an
elected element in the Hong Kong legislature.
But it remains true
that any such move would carry with it the serious risk of upsetting
the Chinese. They have made it plain that they would not tolerate
any move towards self-government or independence for Hong Kong,
and any development towards an elected legislature in Hong Kong
could be interpreted in this way. Such a move would therefore
have to be most carefully considered; might well have to be ruled
out; and should not anyway be signalled in advance.
CONFIDENTIAL
14.