:
DD 15010OZ HONG KONG
GRS 323
SECRET
DESKBY 150100z
FM FCO 1417112 MAY 84
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 876 OF 14 MAY
SECRET
(76)
TOP C
19246 - 1
MKK04031
RECEIVED IN ARGUM
16 MAY 1984
WECK OFFICER
RY
INDEX
*
Lotan Takeń
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
7YOUR TELNO 1315 : FUTURE OF HONG KONG : PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
THE SECRETARY OF STATE WISHES TO EXPAND PARAGRAPH 10
1. OF THE DRAFT IN FCO TELNO 869 TO
MAKE SPECIFIC REFERENCES TO LOCALISATION AND TO THE DEVELOPMENT
OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL
FOR ANY COMMENTS YOU MAY HAVE DESKBY 150830Z ON THE FOLLOWING
REDRAFT:-
'THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAVE MADE IT CLEAR PUBLICLY THAT THEY
SEE THE ADMINISTRATION, AFTER 1997, AS BEING IN THE HANDS OF
HONG KONG PEOPLE THEMSELVES. THIS WOULD FOLLOW A PROCESS OF
DEVELOPMENT WHICH I AM GLAD TO SAY IS ALREADY UNDER WAY, AND
WHICH I EXPECT TO EVOLVE FURTHER. IT IS ALREADY THE POLICY OF
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO RECRUIT ITS CIVIL SERVICE OVERWHELMINGLY
FROM HONG KONG PEOPLE. THIS IS HAVING THE EFFECT OF
INCREASING SUBSTANTIALLY THE PROPORTION OF LOCAL OFFICERS HOLDING
HIGH POSTS. DURING THE YEARS
IMMEDIATELY AHEAD, MOREOVER, THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG WILL ALSO
BE DEVELOPED ON INCREASINGLY REPRESENTATIVE LINES. ALREADY THIS
YEAR, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED PROPOSALS FOR AN
INCREASE IN THE PROPORTION OF ELECTED MEMBERS ON DISTRICT BOARDS
AND A REGIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE NEW TERITORIES ON THE LINES OF
THE URBAN COUNCIL, HALF OF WHOSE MEMBERS ARE DIRECTLY ELECTED.
FURTHER PROPOSALS TO DEVELOP THE REPRESENTATIVE STATUS OF THE
EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS WILL BE PUBLISHED DURING THE
SUMMER.'!
2.
WE SHALL PROVIDE BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR POSSIBLE USE
IN RESPONSE TO SUPPLEMENTARIES ON RECRUITMENT OUTSIDE HONG KONG
(IE IN CERTAIN SPECIFIC GRADES AND WHERE THE RELEVENT SKILLS ARE
1
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