GRS 1000
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 27233OZ PEKING
TELNO 1126
OF 27094OZ NOVEMBER 85
INFO DESKBY 27120OZ FCO
320
HRKO!!!!.
RECEIVED IN
29 NOV 1985
AjBQ9
:
!
HONG KONG AGREEMENT : SECOND MEETING OF THE JLG :
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.
YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT, IN THIS AFTERNOON'S DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON THE GOVERNOR'S OPENING ADDRESS, EIGHT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TOUCHED ON THE QUESTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS. THE MAIN POINTS MADE BY THEM ARE AS FOLLOWS:
(A) MR. STEPEHN CHEONG: STILL GREAT UNEASE AND UNCERTAINTY IN HONG KONG OVER SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF JOINT DECLARATION. APPEARS TO BE HIGH DEGREE OF MUTUAL MISTRUST BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA. BRITAIN HAS DONE LITTLE TO REMOVE CHINA'S ANXIETIES. CHINA'S CAUTION, IF CARRIED TOO FAR, COULD IMPEDE RATIONAL SOLUTION OF PROBLEMS WE FACE. URGES BOTH SIDES TO WORK TOGETHER CLOSELY AND PRAGMATICALLY TOWARDS SOLUTION THAT COULD MAINTAIN PUBLIC CONFIDENCE. ON THEIR PART, HK PEOPLE SHOULD ACCEPT THAT THE SOURCE OF POWER OF THE FUTURE SARG WILL BE DERIVED FROM THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OF CHINA. HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY NOT SYNOMYMOUS WITH INDEPENDENCE. SHOULD ALSO PUT ECONOMIC PROGRESS AS OUR TOP PRIORITY. WHILE KEEPING AN OPEN MIND ON THE MERITS OF DIRECT ELECTIONS, BELIEVES WE SHOULD NOT RULE OUT INDIRECT ELECTIONS WITHOUT GIVING IT A TRY. HK SHOULD NOT EXPERIMENT PREMATURELY WITH DIRECT ELECTION, LEST IT SHOULD DAMAGE OUR CONTINUED ECONOMIC SUCCESS. ALSO URGES MEDIA TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT IN COVERAGE OF POLITICAL ISSUES.
(B) MRS. SELINA CHOW : JOINT DECLARATION LAYS DOWN GENERAL DIRECTION TOWARDS WHICH HK'S GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM IS TO DEVELOP. BUT MANY ASPECTS OVER WHICH WE NEED TO FIND AN ANSWER. EVERY OPTION MUST BE FULLY EXPLORED BEFORE THEY ARE ADOPTED OR DISCARDED. EMPHASISES FORWARD PLANNING FOR CONSTITUTIONAL PEFORMS. ON ELECTIONS, FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY SHOULD BE RETAINED WITH MODIFICATIONS: BUT CURRENT ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM UNSATISFACTORY. PROPOSES SINGLE LIST SYSTEM IN PLACE OF 12 GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTITUENCIES, OR OPEN VOTING WITHIN THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE, OR DIRECT ELECTION ON A POPULIST BASE TO REPLACE ELECTORAL COLLEGES. PECOGNISES DANGERS IN DIRECT ELECTION, BUT CANNOT AFFORD STAGNATION OR RETROGRESSION IN POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT WHICH COULD PUT AT PISK THE STABILITY WE WISH TO PRESERVE. LESS THAN 12 YEARS TO EFFECT SMOOTH TRANSITION: DELAYING CHANGES COULD MEAN HIGHEP RISK OF INSTABILITY AT LATER
STAGE.
CCNFIDENTIAL
/ (c)
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