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CONFIDENTIAL
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Meeting with Hong Kong Democratic Foundation :
: 23 July
Mr
Dr the Hon Leong Che-hung, Dr Patrick Shiu, George Cautherley, Mr Mathew Harrison, Mr Mathew Oram and Mr Tony Chan of the Hong Kong Democratic Foundation (HKDF) called on the Governor on 23 July. The Governor said that he saw this as a preliminary meeting which provided an opportunity for the HKDF to put their points across to him and for him to ask a few questions.
He looked forward to further discussions with them in future.
2.
Dr Shiu said that the Foundation had been formed 2 1/2 years ago.
It was unique in that it comprised expatriates committed to Hong Kong and locals.
This reflected their belief that Hong. Kong's success was founded on British discipline and Chinese enterprise. The Foundation also believed in free enterprise, universal suffrage and that democracy would ensure fair play in the community. They were committed to building a successful economy.
3.
Dr Leong said that the Foundation had prepared material for the Governor (attached). On the question of democracy, the least they could accept was the OMELCO Consensus i.e. 50% of LegCo seats should be directly elected by 1995. Surveys had shown that Hong Kong's professionals and businessmen would like to see LegCo developed in this way.
On Hong Kong's constitutional development, they wished to see the relationship between Leg Co and ExCo properly defined. It was not clear whether ExCo was an advisory body or whether it was а body with executive powers. The question was should ExCo members have portfolios and, being elected, should they take responsibility for what they said on a particular policy area. The Foundation wanted to see more directly elected members appointed to ExCo and LegCo being allowed to have an independent secretariat.
They were disappointed that the responsibility of monitoring Government policy which should be borne by the OMELCO Panels was in practice taken up by ExCo.
4.
that the Foundation had deal of research on the question of They had invited the Electoral Hong Kong to study the system here. had been submitted to SCA and were material given to the Governor.
Dr Leong said conducted a great the 1995 elections. Reform Society to Their conclusions contained in the main points were :
The
CONFIDENTIAL