TNAG-0427-FCO40-492-Proposed-constitutional-advancement-of-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 58

20

Flag

Mr Youde

Youge

clamen

Parliamentary Unit

CONFIDENTIAL

1.

Mr James Johnson MP has put down a Question for written

answer on 30 April to ask the Secretary of State what stage of

further constitutional advance he proposes for the Crown Colony

of Hong Kong.

2.

Mr Johnson has long been an advocate of limited constitutional

advance in Hong Kong. He is visiting the colony at present.

The

Governor has reported (Hong Kong telno. 448) that, in discussion

with Urban Council Members, Mr Johnson has been advocating a form

of indirect elected representation on Legislative Council by which

a proportion of the unofficial membership of the Legislative

Council would be filled by the appointment of elected members of the

Urban Council.

3.

The Governor is considering this idea among others, and has

promised us his comments on the possibility of a move towards an

elected element in the Hong Kong legislature.

But it remains true

that any such move would carry with it the serious risk of upsetting

the Chinese. They have made it plain that they would not tolerate

any move towards self-government or independence for Hong Kong,

and any development towards an elected legislature in Hong Kong

could be interpreted in this way. Such a move would therefore

have to be most carefully considered; might well have to be ruled

out; and should not anyway be signalled in advance.

CONFIDENTIAL

14.