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DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG
Background Note
1. The Hong Kong Government's White Paper published in February
1988, announced the decision to introduce an element of direct
elections for the Legislative Council in 1991. From that date, 10
seats would be open for direct election from geographical constituencies, replacing the 10 seats presently elected by district based electoral college constituencies. There will be scope for further developments between 1991 and 1997.
2. An article by Mr Martin Lee in today's 'Times' (attached) argues that Hong Kong people were in fact led to believe that direct elections would be introduced in 1988 and that we backed away from
this undertaking in response to pressure from Peking. This is an
old chestnut. The fact is that no such promise in respect of 1988
was based on a careful judgement of Hong Kong's interests and the wishes of the community as a whole. A more balanced article by
John Elliot in the 'Financial Times' of today is also attached.
3. The draft Basic Law already provides for the continuation of this process after 1997. It stipulates that universal suffrage is the ultimate objective. It envisages a timetable for the progressive introduction of this by the years 2011 (for the Legislature) and 2012 (for the Chief Executive) subject to the outcome of referenda. We shall be aiming to improve this by bringing forward the timetable and relaxing the conditions on
change.