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majority in favour of introduction in 1988 rather than at a later
date.
But the situation is confused as submissions range from individual letters to signature campaigns, and making assessments involves balancing different views expressed in these various ways. A significant body of Hong Kong opinion believes that direct elections should not be introduced until after 1990, ie after the Basic Law for post-1997 Hong Kong is promulgated.
4.
Nevertheless, on the basis of the Survey Office Report, we are in a position to secure an outcome which will correspond to the expressed views of the Hong Kong people (which we are committed to take full account of in the review) without bringing us into
On the basis of assessments of the damaging conflict with China.
likely outcome of the Report the Secretary of State took the opportunity of a meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister in New York on 23 September to point the way towards a possible mutually
Further satisfactory way of handling the outcome of the review. details of such an arrangement were explored by the Governor of Hong Kong when he visited Peking on 23-25 September, for discussions wiht
Chinese Ministers.
5.
6.
Miss Dunn,
Two delegations came to London in December and mid-January to
They press for the introduction of direct elections in 1988. aroused considerable interest among MPs and the media. the senior unofficial member of LegCo and a member of ExCo, also came to London in mid-January to meet with MPs and the media to
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