From The Minister of State
Richard Luce MP
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Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
7 December 1984
HKK 011/3
RECEIVER
DES
.....
1@DLC1984
(422)
420
Dear Res
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R
Thank you for your letter of 27 November to Geoffrey Howe about direct elections to the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. As Minister of State with responsibility for the Far East, I have been asked to reply.
On 21 November the Hong Kong Government published a White Paper on the further development of representative government. The White Paper takes full account of public comment in Hong Kong on the proposals contained in the earlier Green Paper. During the two months allowed for discussion of these proposals, the Hong Kong Government received comments from a wide range of sources. These comments were generally in favour of the aims of the Green Paper and the gradual and progressive nature of the proposals made in it.
On the question of indirect and direct elections, the Hong Kong Government noted substantial support for direct elections from some sections of the community who made their views public, including organisations such as the Joint Conference on Representative Government in Hong Kong. However there was little evidence of general support for any move towards direct elections as early as 1985. Consequently the White Paper, which outlines the Government's intentions for the 1985 elections to the Legislative Council only, retains the Green Paper proposals for indirect elections through an electoral college and functional constituencies. In response to the views expressed by the public, however, the White Paper doubles the number of members to be elected on this basis in 1985.
:
Reg Freeson Esq MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A OAA
/The general