SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 566
OF 09094OZ FEBRUARY 88
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
SECRET
053067
MDHIAN 6989
TOP COPY a Dir ?
PART TWO OF TWO
THE IMPORTANCE OF ALL THESE CONSIDERATIONS HAS BEEN ECHOED IN THE PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE GREEN PAPER. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WISH TO SEE THIS SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT CONTINUE TO EVOLVE AND BELIEVE THE PRESENT THREE TIER STRUCTURE SHOULD BE THE BASIS FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT. AS I HAVE STRESSED, THEY VALUE THE GRADUAL APPROACH WHICH HAS CHARACTERISED DEVELOPMENT IN RECENT YEARS AND WHICH HAS BEEN SO IMPORTANT IN MAINTAINING PROSPERITY AND STABILITY. ANOTHER FACTOR WHICH HAS CLEARLY BEEN IN THE MINDS OF MANY WHEN CONSIDERING OPTIONS IN THE GREEN PAPER HAS BEEN THE
BY IMPORTANCE OF ACHIEVING A SMOOTH TRANSITION ACROSS 1997, ENSURING THAT DEVELOPMENTS BEFORE THAT DATE ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THE FRAMEWORK TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THE BASIC LAW. THIS FACTOR HAS UNDOUBTEDLY LED MANY TO ADOPT A CAUTIOUS APPROACH TO CHANGE
BEFORE THE BASIC LAW IS FINALISED.
LET ME TURN NOW TO THE QUESTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS. THE GREEN PAPER CONSIDERED A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES AFFECTING ALL THREE TIERS OF GOVERNMENT AND THE SURVEY OFFICE RECEIVED COMMENTS ON ALL OF THEM. BUT, AS EXPECTED, THE QUESTION OF WHETHER AND WHEN THERE SHOULD BE DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DOMINATED ALL OTHERS. THE RESPONSE TO THE GREEN PAPER SHOWED OVERWHELMING SUPPORT IN PRINCIPLE FOR INTRODUCING SOME DIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WELL BEFORE 1997. THIS IS A RESPONSE WHICH THE GOVERNMENT MUST ACT UPON.
BUT THE SURVEY OFFICE REPORT ALSO SHOWED THAT OPINION IN THE COMMUN- ITY IS SHARPLY DIVIDED ON WHETHER DIRECT ELECTIONS SHOULD BE INTRODUCED IN 1988 OR LATER. WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN DIFFERING VIEWS ON THE INTERPRETATION OF THE SURVEY RESULTS AND ON WHETHER THE BALANCE OF OPINION IS FOR OR AGAINST 1988, THE FACT REMAINS THAT THERE IS A VERY REAL DIVISION OF VIEW ON THIS ISSUE. NO AMOUNT OF ARGUMENT WHICH HAS BEEN RAISED ON THIS SUBJECT CAN DETRACT FROM THIS BASIC FACT. THE DIVISION OF VIEWS HAS BEEN CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED IN DEBATES IN THIS COUNCIL, IN THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND IN THE DISTRICT
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