TNAG-0845-FCO40-1055-Visits-of-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 80

CONFIDENTIAL

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the people of Hong Kong can make their views known for example through the office of the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils (UMELCO), which sees itself in an Ombudsman role. There also exists a network of advisory bodies

on matters of public interest. An important recent development has been the setting up of District Advisory Committees in the New Territories, which will, it is hoped, enable representatives of all the inhabitants of the New Territories (particularly in the new urban centres in the new towns) to make their views known

to the Government.

5. The previous Government took the line that they were not opposed to appropriate moves being made at the right time towards more democratic government in Hong Kong. This however tended to lead to further questions about what they considered appropriate and when. Subject to Ministers' (and the Governor's) views, the right response to Mrs Elliott and her delegations might be that the Government acknowledge the efforts made by the Hong Kong Government to involve the people of Hong Kong more closely in the processes of Government; that they believe that more might be done in this direction; but that they doubt whether an extension of electoral democracy would be in the best interests of Hong Kong, given its special political position.

Hong Kong and General Department

September 1979

CONFIDENTIAL