GPS 350 SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2254
OF 2105OOZ OCTOBER 85
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
SECRET
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: ELECTORAL SYSTEM
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WITH THE LEGCO ELECTIONS BEHIND US, ATTENTION IN HONG KONG IS
ALREADY TURNING TO THE 1987 REVIEW. THE MAIN ITEM OF PUBLIC DEBATE
FROM NOW ON WILL BE THE ROLE OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IN CONSTITUTING
THE POST 1987 LEGISLATURE. THIS DEBATE WILL NOT BE OF THE HONG KONG
GOVERNMENT'S MAKING. THE INITIATIVE WILL LIE WITH LEGCO MEMBERS AND
THE MEDIA. MR. MARTIN LEE Q.C. HAS SAID THAT HIS FIRST MOTION IN
LEGCO WILL BE TO PROPOSE A DEBATE ON WHETHER HONG KONG SHOULD HAVE
DIRECT ELECTIONS TO LEGCO. OTHER LEGCO MEMBERS MAY TAKE UP THE
THEME. THE PRESSURE GROUPS AND MEDIA WILL CONTINUE TO BE VOCAL ON
THE THEME.
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2. IT IS NOT TOO EARLY FOR US TO START CLEARING OUR OWN MINDS ON
THIS ISSUE. THE LIMITS OF CHINESE FLEXIBILITY WILL BE ONE, BUT NOT THE ONLY ONE. WE SHALL NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OPINION ON THIS ISSUE IN WESTMINSTER AS WELL AS IN HONG KONG. AND IF WE LET THINGS RIDE FOR TOO LONG WE RISK HAVING TO DEAL WITH A BANDWAGON IN EITHER OR BOTH PLACES. INDEED SUCH TRENDS WOULD BE MUTUALLY REINFORCING. HONG KONG PRESSURE GROUP SPOKESMEN WILL TAKE GOOD ACCOUNT, AS THEY ALWAYS DO, OF THE SUPPORT WHICH THEY CAN GENERATE AT WESTMINSTER. EQUALLY THEY WILL LISTEN CLOSELY TO STATEMENTS BY VISITING MPS, OF WHOM WE HAVE A GOOD NUMBER, AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
3. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, I SHOULD GREATLY WELCOME A DISCUSSION WITH THE MINISTER OF STATE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH ON LIKELY TRENDS IN PARLIAMENTARY. FOR THAT PURPOSE IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IF THE DEPARTMENT COULD PREPARE A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF THE LIKELY PARLIAMENTARY ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE OBVIOUS VARIANTS OF DIRECT ELECTIONS 1.E. NONE: A LIMITED PROPORTION OF LEGCO TO BE DIRECTLY ELECTED: OR FULL DIRECT ELECTIONS BY SAY 1991.
YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
HD/HKD
TOP
Lands
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/FED
HD/PUSD
DEP/HD/PUSD
RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
PS/MR RENTON
PS/PUS
SIR W.HARDING DR WILSON
6137~~~---
COPIES TO:
MR ROBERTS MR FIFOOT
2
MR MARTIN
7
SIR P.CRADOCK MR WOOD
NEWS DEPT.
LEGAL ADVISERS ASSESSMENT STAFF
CABINET OFFICE NO.10 DOWNING ST. LEGAL ADVISERS
1
1
SECRET