TNAG-0518-FCO40-613-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 136

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

DESKBY 202359 Z

21 JAN1975

HICK 1/6

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 42 OF 20 JANUARY, 1975.

FROM H K 1.0 D.

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION.

LAST

'

REF.

(27

1. MR IVOR CLEMITSON HAS PUT DOWN A QUESTION FOR ORAL

ANSWER ON 29 JANUARY, TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHAT PLANS

H M GOVERNMENT HAVE FOR DEVELOPING DEMOCRATIC FORMS OF

GOVERNMENT IN THE CROWN COLONY OF HONG KONG.

2. WE PROPOSE TO RECOMMEND THE ANSWER:

QUOTE THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG MAKE VERY

DIFFICULT ANY CONSTITUTIONAL PROGRESS ON THE PATH CUSTOMARILY

FOLLOWED BY DEPENDENT TERRITORIES. THE SITUATION IS WELL

UNDERSTOOD LOCALLY. UNQUOTE.

3. THE QUESTION WILL PROBABLY NOT BE REACHED, BUT WE NEED

TO PREPARE ANSWERS TO SUPPLEMENTARIES. WE PROPOSE TO

RECOMMEND THE FOLLOWING:

(A) WIDER PUBLIC REPRESENTATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE BRITISH AND HONG KONG GOVERNMENTS ROTH AGREE THAT IT IS A

DESIRABLE LONG TERM OBJECTIVE THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S

MEMBERSHIP SHOULD INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO CAN SPEAK FOR ALL LEVELS

OF SOCIETY.

(8) ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

I HAVE ALREADY ALLUDED TO THE DIFFICULTIES, HOWEVER, HER

MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT WOULD BE WILLING TO CONSIDER ANY

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE GOVERNOR IF ANY CONSENSUS IN FAVOUR

OF ELECTIONS EMERGED IN HONG KONG.

CONFIDENTIAL

/ (C) DISCUSSIONS