Confidential
HAD REACHED A COMPROMISE ON THE INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT ELECTION IN HK, AND THE GOVERNOR'S RECENT TRIP TO PEKING MIGHT HAVE BEEN AIMED AT CLEARING THE OBSTACLES TO DIRECT ELECTION. SCMP ON THE OTHER HAND REPEATED ITS EARLIER REPORT THAT BRITAIN HAD SOUGHT TO REASSURE CHINA ON THE ISSUE OF DIRECT ELECTION BY DESIGNING A SYSTEM THAT COULD OPERATE WITHOUT PARTY POLITICS. THERE WAS NO COMMENTARY IN THE LEADING LEFT-WING AND INDEPENDENT PAPERS.
COMMENTS
5. XU'S COMMENTS ARE SIGNIFICANT IN TWO RESPECTS. FIRST, THIS WAS THE FIRST OFFICIAL CHINESE INDICATION IN PUBLIC THAT DIRECT ELECTIONS, GIVEN POPULAR SUPPORT, WOULD BE IN ORDER IN 1997. SECONDLY, PUBLIC OPINION IN HONG KONG SHOULD BE THE DECIDING FACTOR.
AKERS-JONES
HONG KONG AGREEMENT:
RESTRICTED
LIMITED
COPIES TO:
HD/HKD
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
HD/FED
RESEARCH DEPT (FE)
DEP/HD/PUSD
PS/MR RENTON
MR WILSON
-2-
Confidential