CONFIDENTIAL
stead and deliberate, in line with the wishes of the
community as a whole. Indirect elections to LegCo were
introduced in 1985; and a comprehensive review of public
opinion on the subject of constitutional change was held
in 1987, as we had promised in our White Paper of 1984.
That review showed that while most people wanted a
directly elected element in the legislature, opinion was
sharply divided over the timing of this. Our decision to
hold direct elections in 1991, although criticised by
some people, was mostly welcomed in the territory. There
is moreover scope for further changes in 1995. We have
succeeded in getting the Chinese to accept the need to
enable those members of LegCo elected in 1995 to serve
across the change of sovereignty in 1997, in the
interests of continuity and confidence (details are
contained in Annex III). There is thus the prospect of a
smooth and steady evolution towards fully representative
government in Hong Kong at a pace which is in line with
what Hong Kong people want.
Hong Kong's High Degree of Autonomy
10.
Wherever possible we are allowing the Hong Kong
authorities to exercise now the high degree of autonomy
that Hong Kong is to enjoy after 1997 as provided for in
the Joint Declaration. The Hong Kong Government manages
most of its internal affairs by itself, while keeping HMG
generally informed. Hong Kong also exercises
full autonomy in external trade matters and has its own
separate representative to the GATT in Geneva.