CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 202359 Z
21 JAN1975
HICK 1/6
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 42 OF 20 JANUARY, 1975.
FROM H K 1.0 D.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION.
LAST
'
REF.
(27
1. MR IVOR CLEMITSON HAS PUT DOWN A QUESTION FOR ORAL
ANSWER ON 29 JANUARY, TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHAT PLANS
H M GOVERNMENT HAVE FOR DEVELOPING DEMOCRATIC FORMS OF
GOVERNMENT IN THE CROWN COLONY OF HONG KONG.
2. WE PROPOSE TO RECOMMEND THE ANSWER:
QUOTE THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG MAKE VERY
DIFFICULT ANY CONSTITUTIONAL PROGRESS ON THE PATH CUSTOMARILY
FOLLOWED BY DEPENDENT TERRITORIES. THE SITUATION IS WELL
UNDERSTOOD LOCALLY. UNQUOTE.
3. THE QUESTION WILL PROBABLY NOT BE REACHED, BUT WE NEED
TO PREPARE ANSWERS TO SUPPLEMENTARIES. WE PROPOSE TO
RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING:
(A) WIDER PUBLIC REPRESENTATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS ROTH AGREE THAT IT IS A
DESIRABLE LONG TERM OBJECTIVE THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S
MEMBERSHIP SHOULD INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO CAN SPEAK FOR ALL LEVELS
OF SOCIETY.
(8) ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
I HAVE ALREADY ALLUDED TO THE DIFFICULTIES, HOWEVER, HER
MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT WOULD BE WILLING TO CONSIDER ANY
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE GOVERNOR IF ANY CONSENSUS IN FAVOUR
OF ELECTIONS EMERGED IN HONG KONG.
CONFIDENTIAL
/ (C) DISCUSSIONS