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HKK 01113
385
320
о
Ry
-
mm
1
DD 200100Z HONG KONG
GRS 405
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 20010OZ
FM FCO 191630Z NOV 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 2291 OF 19 NOVEMBER 1984
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
MIPT: WHITE PAPER ON FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE
GOVERNMENT: PRESS LINE.
WAS CHINESE GOVERNMENT CONSULTED ABOUT WHITE PAPER?
1. CHINESE GOVERNMENT INFORMED AS A COURTESY SHORTLY BEFORE
PUBLICATION OF WHITE PAPER.
WHY DOES WHITE PAPER NOT CONTAIN PROPOSALS FOR DIRECT ELECTIONS
TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL?
2.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PROPOSALS CONTAINED IN THE GREEN PAPER
SHOWED LITTLE EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT FOR ANY MOVE TOWARDS DIRECT
ELECTIONS IN 1985. WHILST MANY PEOPLE FAVOURED THE IDEA IN THE
ABSTRACT, FEW WANTED DIRECT ELECTIONS IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE. FURTHER CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO THE QUESTION IN THE REVIEW
TO BE CARRIED OUT IN 1987.
WHY SUCH A GRADUAL APPROACH?
3.
PEOPLE OF HONG KONG GENERALLY IN FAVOUR OF GRADUAL AND
PROGRESSIVE PROPOSALS. THEY RECOGNISE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE
PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG ARE NOT PUT AT RISK BY
INTRODUCING TOO MANY CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES TOO RAPIDLY.
REPLACEMENT OF GOVERNOR AS PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL?
4. GENERAL VIEW OF PEOPLE OF HONG KONG IS IN FAVOUR OF MAKING
NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE POSITION OF THE GOVERNOR DURING
NEXT FEW YEARS. GOVERNOR'S POSITION WILL BE RECONSIDERED IN THE
1987 REVIEW.
WHAT IS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROPOSALS IN THE WHITE PAPER AND THE
DRAFT AGREEMENT?
5. THE PROPOSALS IN THE WHITE PAPER ARE CONCERNED WITH THE
PERIOD BEFORE 1 JULY 1997. IT IS FIRMLY AGREED BETWEEN THE
BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WILL
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