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claim that the proposals for indirect elections are intended to preserve the dominant position of the establishment in
Hong Kong, and demonstrate both the continuing colonial
mentality of the Hong Kong Government and HMG's unwillingness to
overcome this. Some may also point out that the proposals would mean that the last real chance of introducing a western-style
democracy in Hong Kong before 1997 is being wasted.
4.
The Governor believes that it is important not to over-
estimate the demand in Hong Kong for direct elections. This
demand comes mainly from academics and members of small pressure groups. While there is general support for more representative
government, there is also a strong expression of concern, both
in the business community and at the grass roots level, that the
Hong Kong Government might move too far and too fast and in
consequence introduce a factor of instability at this highly
sensitive time.
5.
The Green Paper rightly stresses that the present system
of Government in Hong Kong operates on the basis of consultation
and consensus and that any developments should aim to maintain
this. Thus the proposals in the paper aim to extend political
power more deeply into the community, but they also seek to maintain the "corporate" format of the organs of government
in Hong Kong in order to reduce wherever possible the
opportunities for ambitious individuals on either the right or the left to dominate particular areas of government. It is for
this reason that the Governor does not favour a "ministerial"
system whereby members of the Executive and Legislative Councils
would be allocated specific areas of responsibility (paragraph 56 of the draft Green Paper). He is strongly of the view that the
Council should continue to act collectively on all issues.
6. I propose, that we should inform the Chinese about the
Green Paper immediately before publication but should not
consult them on the proposals in it. They have already, in
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