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elections to the Legislative Council in 1988.
The proponents of
these ideas are at present a minority, but they are a very vocal one
whose views are given widespread coverage in the media. On the
other hand the introduction of direct elections would increase
nervousness among
in the business community and many other parts
of society.
31.
We cannot predict with any certainty how the views of the people of Hong Kong on the issues
the issues to be covered in the 1987 review
will develop. Direct elections for а number of seats in the Legislative Council will be the most controversial issue, and given. the deep divisions that already exist it is likely that no clear
consensus on this subject will emerge. It will undoubtedly be much
more difficult than in the past to reach a decision that will be
the majority, including the less vocal elements in
acceptable to Hong Kong society.
32.
for their
own
а
The situation is complicated by the fact that the known
Chinese opposition to direct elections has caused many people in
Kong Hong Kong to support their introduction in 1988 not sake, but as a symbol of Hong Kong's ability to acquire and retain the "high degree of autonomy" promised in the Joint Declaration. This factor is so significant that in the view of the Governor of Hong Kong if some element of direct elections is not introduced in
1988 there is likely to be
in among many people
Hong Kong
substantial reduction in confidence in the willingness of HMG to
resist Chinese
in the willingness of the Chinese to conceded true autonomy to the Hong Kong SAR and in the credibility and authority of the Hong Kong Government. For others in Hong Kong, however, Chinese opposition to direct elections will
turn against
against their introduction even if they might otherwise have been moderately in favour. The result is increasing polarisation.
33.
pressure,
cause them to
The two exercises under way in 1987, namely the 1987 review and the drafting of the Basic Law, essentially involve parallel consultation of the same people on the same issues. It should, at least in theory, be possible for the two sides to arrive at the same
conclusion.
of the main
of objects
the informal
dialogue that we have established with the Chinese. But in
This is
one
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