HKK
RECEIVED IN
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17 NOV 1986
INSEA
REGISTRY
O DIST
Action TakendONFIDENT I AL
GRS 190
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3848
OF 17084OZ NOVEMBER 86
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON
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ST 7
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HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON FOR SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES.
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TEN LEGCO MEMBERS SPOKE ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT DURING THE DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS ON 5 NOVEMBER. THERE WAS SOME EMOTION ON THE SUBJECT OF DIRECT ELECTIONS. MARTIN LEE ATTACKED THOSE WHO OBJECT TO DIRECT ELECTIONS, LABELLING THEM AS POLITICAL FREE LUNCHERS' AND WARNING OF THE POSSIBILITY OF A CORRUPT GOVERNMENT ''BY THE RICH, OF THE RICH AND FOR THE RICH''. STEPHEN CHEONG, HELMUT SOHMEN AND SELINA CHOW DEFENDED THE APPOINTMENT SYSTEM AND THE PROVEN TRADITION OF GOVERNMENT BY CONSENSUS. THERE WAS A CLEAR SPLIT BETWEEN BUSINESSMEN AND APPOINTED MEMBERS ON THE ONE HAND AND ELECTED MEMBERS ON THE OTHER. IN THE COURSE OF THE DEBATE, THERE WAS CRITICISM ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BACK-TRACKING FROM THE 1984 WHITE PAPER. THE CHIEF SECRETARY WILL RESPOND ON 26 NOVEMBER. DRAFT TEXT OF RELEVANT PARTS OF HIS REPLY IS IN MIFT. GRATEFUL FOR ANY COMMENTS YOU MAY HAVE.
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HMLNAN 4834
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LIMITED HKD
COPIES TO:- HKGO
LONDON
MR WILSON
CONFIDENTIAL