GRS. 130

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 328

OF 270925Z JANUARY 87

Secret

TOP COPY Q DIST ?

HICK 011/2

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

28 JAN 1987

K3K OFFICER

INDEX

PA

37

Taken

PERSONAL FOR HUM, HKD FROM ACTING GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO 313 AND STRATEGY PAPER

1. AN ADDITIONAL CONCERN OF THE CHINESE OVER THE INTRODUCTION OF AN ELEMENT OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1988 MAY BE A FEAR THAT THE SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE PRESSING FOR DIRECT ELECTIONS WILL ALSO CONTINUE THEIR PRESSURE FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE TO BE ELECTED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND FOR A ''MINISTERIAL** SYSTEM TO BE DEVELOPED WHICH WOULD UNDERMINE THE AUTHORITY OF THE EXECUTIVE. IT IS CLEARLY TOO LATE TO INJECT THIS THOUGHT INTO THE STRATEGY PAPER BUT IT MAY WELL FORM PART OF THE BACKGROUND TO CHINESE AVERSION TO DIRECT ELECTIONS AT THIS TIME. IF THIS IS CORRECT IT MIGHT ADD STRENGTH TO THE SUGGESTION THAT WE SHOULD NOW ASK THE CHINESE IF THEY HAD GIVEN ANY THOUGHT TO OUR PROPOSALS FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE.

AKERS-JONES

YYYY

HMLNAN 7819

NNNN

LIMITED

нко FED FS

Ps / MM RENTON

Fs / Pus

Ми вистоле Sin .D. WILSON

Secret

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