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SECRET
香港總督府
HONG KONG Despatch 1 March 1988
HKB ON!!
GOVERNMENT HOUSE
HONG KONG
17 MAR 1988
1
1.
The Development of Representative Government
in Hong Kong: The 1988 White Paper
Summary
Green Paper published in May 1987 covered a range of constitutional issues, including direct elections to the Legislative Council (LegCo). Direct elections attracted by far the most attention. China was strongly opposed to early introduction and campaigned vigorously, both overtly and covertly. Vociferous pro-direct election lobby drew support from young and educated middle class. Unprecedented response of 130,000 submissions to the Survey Office (paragraphs 1-6).
2.
Unsuccessful Chinese attempts to get an assurance from us that there would be no direct elections in 1988. But unhelpful public comments by Chinese made our position more difficult and were seen here as interference (paragraphs 7-10).
3.
Report by Survey Office in October showed clear majority in favour of an element of direct elections to LegCo before 1997. Views sharply divided on whether to start in 1988. On other issues raised in the Green Paper, the response was generally against change. Overall impression of population generally satisfied with the political system and wanting change to be gradual (paragraphs 11-14).
4.
If Hong Kong opinion had strongly favoured direct elections in 1988, we would have faced a damaging confrontation with Peking. We were spared this dilemma. Once Chinese knew that we were not going to introduce direct elections in 1988, they became co-operative, on the White Paper and other Hong Kong issues (paragraphs 15-16).
5.
White Paper published on 10 February introduces ten directly elected seats into LegCo in 1991, and increases by two the number of indirectly elected members from 1988. It rationalises the three-tier system of government: each tier will now elect representatives to the next. A major advance for Hong Kong. We have also brought the Chinese a long way; 1984 they almost certainly did not envisage direct elections even after 1997 (paragraphs 17-20).
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