UNCLASSIFIED
026557
MDLIAN 6586
SUPPORT OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1988.
THE FORMER GROUP ONLY BASED
THEIR ARGUMENTS ON STATISTICS IN THE SURVEY OFFICE REPORT. THE
LATTER GROUP POINTED OUT THAT THE AGB MCNAIR COMPANY HAD ADMITTED
THAT HAD THEY NOT BEEN SO RESTRICTED BY THE GREEN PAPER, THE QUESTION
ON DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1988 IN THE QUESTIONNAIRE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO COMPLICATED. THOSE MPS WHO OPPOSED DIRECT POLLS IN 1988 DID
NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY TO THAT.
THERE ARE MANY INTERESTING POINTS OF DETAIL IN THE DEBATE WHICH
DESERVE CLOSER READING. LOOKING BACK ON ALL THESE CHANGES AND
ACHIEVEMENTS, ONCE CAN SEE THAT THEY ALL HAPPENED WITHIN ONE MONTH.
I THINK THAT WE SHOULD LET OTHER PEOPLE ASSESS THE MEANING AND
VALUE OF THE VISIT BY THE DELEGATION OF DEMOCRATS TO BRITAIN. BUT I
HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT WHETHER HK WILL HAVE A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM AND
WHETHER HK WILL ENJOY A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY WILL HING ON THE
DECISIONS OF THE HK AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS NOW. SIMILARLY, THIS
DECISION WILL BE SUBJECTED TO A VERY CRITICAL ASSESSMENT BY HISTORY.
ENDS
WILSON
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ΜΑΙΝ
20
MINIMAL
HKD
ADDITIONAL
1
HK GOVT OFFICE, LONDON
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DISTRIBUTION
21
FED
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UNCLASSIFIED