TNAG-0220-FCO40-256-Constitutional-development-of-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 35

The development of a representative legislative assembly is precluded by the danger that any politics in Hong Kong would be the politics of the two Chinas and that a determined Communist minority in a generally apathetic electorate would There is widespread engineer control of such institutions.

awareness of these dangers both within and outside Hong Kong. There is consequently at present no widespread demand in the

and we have encountered Colony for constitutional changes;

little international criticism even in the United Nations.

Nevertheless the form of government prescribed for this thriving and progressive community does stand out as a startling anomaly in our post-war record of colonial

administration.

10. There have been several Ministerial pronouncements on

this subject; the then Commonwealth Secretary said in reply to a P.2. on 21 March 1967: "Because of Hong Kong's special

circumstances it is not possible to think of normal self- government in the Colony or to consider an elected legislative

council"

Public

11. In a sense Hong Kong is governed by consensus. opinion on important government measures (e.g. proposals for Chinese marriage reform, local government reorganisation anti- bribery legislation) is widely canvassed before final

decisions are taken by publishing working party reports or

draft legislation and inviting comment.

There are numerous

advisory committees (on Transport, Education, Medical Services, Labour, Social Welfare, Trade and Industry, etc.) which play a

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