have been about, why agreement has not been possible, and how we intend to proceed.
Arrangements for the last cycle of elections in Hong Kong under British sovereignty cannot be considered in isolation.
They form part of a long process of gradual development in
Hong Kong's system of representative government. The
Sino-British Joint Declaration of 1984, and China's Basic Law
for Hong Kong, which will come into force on 1 July 1997,
between them set the pace for democratic development in Hong Kong. There is no argument about that. They also establish
that Hong Kong will retain its own, capitalist way of life
after 1997, under the principles of "one country, two systems"
and "Hong Kong run by Hong Kong people".
The wishes of the people of Hong Kong are crucial. There has
been a steadily growing demand, given added impetus by the
events in Tiananmen Square in 1989, for Hong Kong people to have more say in the running of their own affairs. The first part of this White Paper summarises these developments. It also addresses a question I am often asked: why did Britain
not introduce democracy to Hong Kong much earlier? The short
answer is that for many years the community had other priorities. There was a deep-seated concern that the
introduction of politics could lead to open clashes between
nationalists and communists, and that this could lead China to invoke its claim to sovereignty over Hong Kong. Her Majesty's
Government, and through them the Governor, were of course
accountable to Parliament for the administration of the
territory throughout this period.
A gradual development of democracy has however been under way
since 1984. The question which confronted the new Governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, on his arrival in mid-1992 was how to reconcile the clear wish in the community for further movement
statement 26.8/BRIEFS/NJH
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