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301211
CONFIDENTIAL
members of the Urban Council are elected, it is difficult to describe
them as representative. As Mr Roberts said, they are chosen from
the urban area alone, the electorate is very small, and only a
small proportion of the electorate bother to vote.
6.
However the reason for this apathy is largely that the
Urban Council has no very substantial functions and relatively low
prestige. If elections to the Urban Council were seen as an indirect
avenue to Legislative Council, interest in the elections might well
pick up; though, as Mr Roberts also pointed out, elections do not,
historically, mean much to the Chinese.
7.
The Governor has promised us his proposals on possible constitutional changes. Much of his difficulty springs from the
need to identify the wills and energies of the people of Hong Kong
with an alien government. An elected element, however indirect,
might help in this.
8.
But the overriding need is not to disturb the political
relationship with the Chinese. The more precise the convention of
indirect elections became, the greater would the risk of trouble
with the Chinese become.
9.
I recommend that Lord Goronwy-Roberts should probe
Mr Johnson's ideas and say that we will consider them, in consultation with the Governor; but should avoid any commitment at this stage.
Mr Johnson may also raise the broad question of labour
10.
relations.
It appears from news reports of the visit, that
Mr Johnson and Mr Ford were disappointed with the state of Hong Kong's labour relations and the failure of the trade unions to organise
themselves into a more effective political movement.
Hong Kong Mr Johnson also stressed the need for improved social
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