OPS 159
PRIORITY
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 2306552
CONFIDENTIAL
SANZIDENTIAL RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No.52
23 APR 974
NKKI/2
OF COPY
TO PRIORITY FCO TELNO 448 OF 23 APRIL, 1974
FOR H KIOD,
LAST
REF.
NEXT
REF.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 373: PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION: CONSTITUTIONAL
ADVANCE.
I SUGGEST A SLIGHT VARIANT OF THE REPLY PROPOSED IN PARA 2 OF
YOUR TELEGRAM:
ঙ
QUOTE THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG ARE SPECIAL AND MAKE VERY
DIFFICULT ANY CONSTITUTIONAL PROGRESS ON THE PATH CUSTOMARILY
FOLLOWED BY DEPENDENT TERRITORIES. THE SITUATION IS WELL UNDERSTOOD
LOCALLY UNQUOTE.
2. DURING HIS VISIT MR JAMES JOHNSON IN DISCUSSION WITH URBAN
COUNCIL MEMBERS HAS BEEN ADVOCATING A FORM OF INDIRECT ELECTED
REPRESENTATION ON LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL UNDER WHICH A PROPORTION OF
THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD BE
FILLED BY THE APPOINTMENT OF ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL.
HE HAS MENTIONED MRS E. ELLIOTT IN PARTICULAR, THE APPOINTMENT TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, AN ELECTED
URBAN COUNCIL MEMBER, IS CITED AS A PRECEDENT.
FCO PASS COPY TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HKIOD
FED
PARLY UNIL
PS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
COPIES TO
H K GOVT OFFICE 6 GRAFTON ST
CONFIDENTIAL
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YS
GPS 150
MMEDIATE