1
CORDS
FROM
THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
House of Lords Westminster
7.
The Basic Law at present provides for 25% of the Council
to be directly elected and this is an encouraging step forward.
But I am sure the Chinese Government know that they have
nothing to fear from a further increase which would give
as it would more people a stake and an involvement in the
future of Hong Kong. A comparatively small concession
would go a long way.
This debate is no more at this stage than an interim
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look at the developing scene but I believe it to be
essential that the people of Hong Kong should know that the
British Government, all onnosition parties and the two Houses of
Parliament are taking a lively interest in their problems and
their views at this crucial time in their history.
We hope to have further debates as the situation demands.
I BEG 10 MOVE.