CONFIDENTIAL
:
(E) THE RELATIVE MERITS OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT ELECTIONS ATTRACTED CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC INTEREST AND COMMENT BUT THERE WAS LITTLE EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT FOR ANY MOVE TOWARDS DIRECT ELECTIONS AS SOON AS 1985. PUBLIC CONCERN FOR MAINTAINING FUTURE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY FAVOURED A CAUTIOUS APPROACH WITH HASTEN SLOWLY' AS THE WATCHWOOD. WHILST MANY PEOPLE FAVOURED THE IDEA OF DIRECT
ELECTIONS VERY FEW WANTED THEM IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE AND FURTHER
CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO THE MATTER IN THE 1987 REVIEW:
(F) WITH REGARD TO THE FUTURE COMPOSITION OF EXCO, A MINISTERIAL SYSTEM, AND THE POSITION OF THE GOVERNOR, PUBLIC REACTION HAS
ADVOCATED CAUTION AND THESE ISSUES WILL BE CONSIDERED FURTHER AT A
LATER STAGE.
FEEDBACK
7. IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED IF LOCAL REACTION AND RESPONSE COULD
BE FED BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
YOUDE
:
HONG KONG AGREEMENT
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP HD/PUSD
RESEARCH DEPT (MR WALKER) PS
PS/MR LUCE
PS/PUS
SIR W HARD ING
MR WILSON
SIR J FREELAND
4
COPIES TO:(VIA ADR)
MR ROBERTS, NEWS DEPT
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR BURROWS, LEGAL ADVISERS
MR MARTIN, ASST STAFF CABINET
OFFICE
MR CARTLEDGE, CABINET OFFICE MR COLVIN, CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADOCK, NO 10 DOWNING ST SIR P CRADOCK, ROOM K195
CONELLIENTAL