22.04
LUI
KHUTU TELA SERVICES.
01 928 8607 P.05
FOREIGN SEC INT
BRIAN HAYES SHOW LBC 17 MAY 1989
-30-
FOREIGN SECRETARY:
You have got to remember that there has been no elected
pattern of government in Hong Kong over the many years that the
Colony has been there because of the very different historical
background, the very different prospect for the Territory.
Vo have been able to secure an agreement in the text of the
We agreed with the Chinese Government that there
Joint Declaration.
should be the prospect of democratic government there in the years
ahead, but because it is such a change from what has previously been
there, it is very important to make changes in that direction at a
pace that is likely to be sustained and upheld and acceptable to the
people of Hong Kong.
We have, as you know, introduced directly-elected places in
prospect for the Legislative Council. There is the prospect of
further steps in the same direction.
We have been trying to do
that in line with the wishes, so far as we can judge, of the people
of Hong Kong.
The baton, in a way, is now passing to the Chinese Government
because after 1997 the constitution of Hong Kong will be embodied in
the Basic Law and in the drafting of the Basic Law there are
provisions being made to deal with the same thing and that 18 still
under discussion. The Chinese have indicated their willingness to
Hatan further to the views of the people of Hong Kong.