CONFIDENTIAL
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT/1987 REVIEW/DIRECT ELECTIONS
Background
1.
The most sensitive current issue. A Green Paper was published in Hong Kong in May, setting out a number of options for possible The most development of the system of representative government. controversial option by far involves the introduction of a number of directly elected seats into Hong Kong's legislature (the Legislative Council, at present consisting exclusively of official, appointed and indirectly elected members). A period of public consultation ended on 30 September. A Survey Office was established to invite, collect collate and report on the response of the public to the Green Paper. It submitted its report to the Governor on 29 October. The independent monitors who were appointed to oversee the work of the office submitted their report to the Governor on 30 October. Copies of the two reports have been placed in the Library of the House. The reports will now be carefully considered prior to publication by the Hong Kong Government of a White Paper in the New
Year.
2. The Chinese have major reservations about the early introduction of direct elections to the Legislative Council (although they maintain that they are not opposed to them in principle).
3. The Survey Office is a massive document, which simply reports on public response and does not come to any conclusions as to the
The line here and in Hong direction of public views on any issue. Kong has been that it would be premature to jump to conclusions, and HMG and HKG must carefully study the report before proposals are
Where direct published in the White Paper in the New Year. elections are concerned the Survey Office has registered a strong current of opinion supporting their introduction in principle; but on timing opinion recorded is sharply divided, with no clear
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CONFIDENTIAL