CAZADE (2)
SECRET
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
HONG KONG DEPARTMENT
НКВ 011/1
DD 1988/259
DESPATCH
SELECTIVE DISTRIBUTION
HONG KONG
1 MARCH 1988
THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG:
THE ROAD TRAVELLED
THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Summary
1. Three White Papers on constitutional reform in the past seven
years have brought Hong Kong from an old-style colonial government
to a three tier system which from 1991 will include direct elections
at all levels (paragraph 1-3).
2. Earlier initiatives for reform, in 1946 and 1966, failed
because of lack of public interest and external threats to Hong
Kong's existence. Sir Alexander Grantham, Governor from 1947 to
1957, summarised the problems of constitutional development in an
assessment that has aged well (paragraphs 4-9).
3.
Demographic and social change led to developments in district
administration in the 1970s. District Boards set up in 1982 with
some directly elected members (paragraphs 10-12).
4.
Sino-British negotiations about Hong Kong's future introduced
new urgency and purpose. Indigenous political regime had to be strengthened against time of British withdrawal. Green Paper of 1984 proposed indirect elections to the Legislative Council (LegCo),
and floated possibility of indirectly elected Executive Councillors
and Governor. Direct elections to LegCo and a ministerial system
also raised for discussion, but not pressed by government, because
of dangers of instability and communist infiltration. But direct
elections attracted the most public interest (paragraphs 13-21).
SECRET