6 NOV !
BACKGROUND
Dr Marek is a member of the Hong Kong Parliamentary Group, but has not asked any other questions on Hong Kong during the life of the present Parliament.
On 21 November, the Hong Kong Government will publish a White Paper on the development of further representative Government in Hong Kong. This will take into account public comment on the proposals
of the Green Paper which was published on 18 July. Public reaction was generally in favour of the aims of the Green Paper and the gradual and progressive nature of the proposals made in it. Whilst most people favoured the idea of direct elections, very few wanted them in the immediate future. The White Paper, which sets out the Hong Kong Government's intentions for the 1985 elections, does not provide for direct elections to the Legislative Council but for
indirect elections through an electoral college and functional constituencies. The White Paper does however state that further consideration will be given to the question of direct elections in the review of progress towards representative government which will take place in 1987.
It would not be appropriate to anticipate the contents of the White Paper in replying to Dr Marek's question.
The reply has been agreed with Hong Kong and Peking.
Hong Kong Department
15 November 1984
DISTRIBUTION:
Parliamentary Unit
HKD FED