SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
SECRET
TOP COPY Q DIST 7
102
01172
HKB 011/2 ота
RECEIVEL.
VIREGISTRY
16 DEC 1987
TELNO 4728
OF 14110OZ DECEMBER 87
INDE
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
umn Takes
050243
MDHIAN 0270
YOUR TELNO 3242:
REVIEW OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVVERNMENT: DISTRICT BOARDS AND MUNICIPAL COUNCILS
I AM SORRY THAT MINISTERS FEEL THAT THEY WERE NOT GIVEN SUFFICIENT TIME TO CONSIDER THIS PROPOSAL.
2. AS YOU KNOW, THE INTENTION WAS TO INTRODUCE THE CHANGES IN 1991. IN THAT CASE WE COULD HAVE WAITED UNTIL THE WHITE PAPER BEFORE ANNOUNCING THEM. HOWEVER, EXCO DECIDED AT THEIR MEETING ON
1 DECEMBER THAT THERE WERE GOOD REASONS IN FAVOUR OF BRINGING IN THE CHANGES IN 1989. IT FOLLOWED FROM THIS THAT WE NEEDED TO MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE WHITE PAPER SO THAT THOSE MEMBERS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL WHO WISHED TO KEEP A SEAT ON DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE A CHANCE TO PUT THEIR NAMES FORWARD IN THE 1988 DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.
3. I THINK WE ARE ALL AGREED THAT THE EXCO PROPOSAL WAS A SENSIBLE ONE. THE SPEED WITH WHICH WE NEEDED TO PROCESS IT WAS I AM AFRAID INEVITABLE, GIVEN THE TIMING OF THE DB ELECTIONS.
4. OUR ASSESSMENT HERE IS THAT THE PRIOR ANNOUNCEMENT OF THIS DECISION WILL NOT CAUSE SIGNIFICANT PRESENTATIONAL DIFFICULTIES IN TERMS OF CRITICISM THAT WE ARE PRESENTING THE RESULTS OF THE 1987 REVIEW IN A PIECEMEAL WAY. THERE WOULD BE MUCH MORE CRITICISM IF WE STUCK TO THE DECISION TO MAKE CHANGES IN 1989 BUT FAILED TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE KEY PARAMETERS IN ADVANCE OF NOMINATIONS OPEINING FOR THE 1988 DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS. NEVERTHELESS WE SHALL TAKE GREAT CARE WITH THE TERMS OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO TRY TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF ADVERSE COMMENT.
WILSON
YYYY
PAGE
SECRET
1