18905
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JULY 1997. WE ARE ALSO AWARE THAT THE QUESTION OF DEMOCRATIC
DEVELOPMENT IS BEING INCREASINGLY AIRED IN HONG KONG. WE
OBVIOUSLY NEED TO AVOID GIVING THE CHINESE THE CHANCE EITHER TO
TRY TO VETO OUR PROPOSALS BECAUSE THEY REGARD THEM AS GOING TOO
FAR OR CONVERSELY TO CLAIM THAT THEY ARE INSUFFICIENTLY
'DEMOCRATIC' AND TRYING TO STEAL OUR CLOTHES.
5.
FOR THIS PURPOSE WE SHOULD HAVE READY A FULL, BUT NOT
DETAILED ANSWER TO THE CHINESE. WE SHOULD BE PREPARED TO SEE AT
ANY RATE THE GIST OF IT PUBLISHED, BECAUSE THE CHINESE ARE LIKELY
TO LEAK. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF IT SET OUT CLEARLY OUR INTENTION
TO MOVE TO A FULLER ELECTIVE PROCESS, BUT WITHOUT SPECIFYING THE
METHOD (EG DIRECT OR INDIRECT ELECTIONS). WE SUGGEST THAT IT
SHOULD BE ON THE FOLLOWING LINES:
(A) WE BELIEVE THAT CONSTITUTIONAL EVOLUTION IN HONG KONG, IN ORDER TO COMMAND CONFIDENCE, SHOULD BE ON THE BASIS OF EXISTING
STRUCTURES. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT OUR WORKING PAPER TALKS
IN TERMS OF EG EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, DISTRICT
BOARDS ETC.
(B)
HOWEVER WE SEE A NEED FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICULARLY FOR A
MORE REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM. WE ARE THEREFORE AIMING AT
PROGRESSIVELY GREATER USE OF ELECTIVE SYSTEMS AT ALL LEVELS OF
GOVERNMENT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. ONE MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION
WILL BE AN INCREASE IN THE ELECTORAL ELEMENTS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
IN 1985 AND 1986.
(C) THUS OUR WORKING PAPER TAKES ACCOUNT OF THE FACT THAT THE
PRESENT FRAMEWORK OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG WILL REMAIN BUT THAT
THERE WILL BE CHANGES IN THE METHOD BY WHICH DIFFERENT BODIES OR
INDIVIDUALS ARE CHOSEN OR APPOINTED. THE ESSENTIAL POINT IS THAT
THE INSTITUTIONS WILL BE CREATED WITHIN HONG KONG.
6. IF WE ADOPTED THIS MORE GENERAL APPROACH, THE TIMETABLE IN
PARA 3 OF TUR COULD BE CONSIDERABLY SHORTENED.
HOWE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
HD/HKD
FID/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
D/HD/PUSD (MR FLOWER)
RES.D. (MR WALKER)
LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR
FS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR J BULLARD
SIR W HARDING
MR DONALD
KIR WRIGHT
SIR C TICKELL
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COPIES TO:
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
PS/HOME SECRETARY
PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER
PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL
PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY
COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS
HR BURROWS
NEWS D
LEGAL ADVS
MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST
MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE
MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE
MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE
PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D
PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL
SIR P CRADOCK RM K195
BIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET
SECRET