GRS 200
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO DESKBY 30120OZ FCO
TELNO 3576
OF 301055Z OCTOBER 86
INFO PRIORITY PEKING
Secret
432
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
H K Kauli
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
31 OCT 1986
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
PERSONAL FOR HUM, HKD, FROM GOVERNOR
YOUR TELNO 2416 PAPERS FOR OD(K)
1. I AM STILL DOUBTFUL ABOUT THE ASSERTION THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS TO LEGCO, FOR HOWEVER FEW SEATS, COULD IN ITSELF HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON POLITICAL AND SOCIAL STABILITY. WE HAVE AS YOU KNOW HAD DIRECT ELECTIONS AT THE DB AND THE COUNCIL LEVEL FOR SOME YEARS. PEOPLE HAVE BECOME USED TO THE HUSTINGS AND THE GENERAL EXCITEMENT OF AN ELECTION. IT IS TRUE OF COURSE THAT ELECTIONS AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LEVEL WOULD BE NEW, BUT I DO NOT MYSELF THINK THAT THE DANGER TO STABILITY LIES SO MUCH IN THEIR INTRODUCTION PER SE, IT WOULD LIE IN ANY CHANGE IN THE NUMBERS ELECTED AND HENCE THE BALANCE OF FORCES IN LEGCO.
2.
DESPITE THE APPARENT DIFFERENCE OF VIEW ON THIS MATTER, I WOULD BE CONTENT WITH THE REVISED PARAGRAPH 34 IN PARA. 4 OF TUR, SUBJECT TO THE DELETION OF THE LAST 9 WORDS OF THE PENULTIMATE SENTENCE.
3.
I AM CONTENT TO PUT THE PAPERS TO EXCO ON 11 NOVEMBER. WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW DESKBY 060030Z OF ANY FURTHER CHANGESSHMWLJ V BKVFHQR
YOUDE
YYYY
HMLNAN 4019
LIMITED
HKD
PS
PS! MR RENTON
HR GILLMORE
DR WILSON
Secret
433
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