TNAG-1220-FCO40-1530-Democratic-representation-and-reform-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 18

GR$1500 SECRET

DESK BY 2911302

SECRET

FM HONG KONG 2910252 DEC 83

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGPAM NUMBER 2034 OF 29 DECEMBER 1983

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

MIPT

5)

CHKK

011/3

FUTURE OF HONG KONG: CONSTITUTIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL

DEVELOPMENT.

THE FOLLOWING IS TH TEXT OF THE DRAFT EXCO PAPER.

BEGINS :

INTRODUCTION

INILA

2 DEC 1993

Ати

see (54) (56

1. THIS PAPER IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A BASIS FOR A DISCUSSION ON THE CHANGE TO A MORE REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG AND SETS OUT SOME OPTIONS FOR POSSIBLE REFORMS TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE OF HONG KONG.

2. THE INCREASING INTEREST IN THE ISSSUE

(A) IN RECENT YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN INCREASING INTEREST IN SOME GROUPS IN HONG KONG IN THE POSSIBILITY OF ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, OR AT LEAST HAVING THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIBE COUNCIL SELECTED ON A MORE FORMAL AND VISIBLYP REPRESENTATIVE BASIS THAN THE PRESENT APPOINTED SYSTEM. THIS IS PARTLY THE RESULT OF THE INCREASING MATURITY OF HONG KONG SYSTEM, NOTABLY THOURHGH THE EMERGENCE OF AN ARTICULATE PROFESSIONAL MIDDLE CLASS MANY OF WHOM WERE EDUCTED IN THE US, CANADA AND UK.

(B) THE APPROACH OF 1997 AND THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FUTURE HAVE ALSO STIMULATED PUBLIC DEBATE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL ISSUES. THE CHINESE HAVE INDICATED PUBLICLY THEIR INTENTION OF CONSULTING THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ON THE MINI-CONSTITUTION FOR THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (SAR) WHICH THE CHINESE INTEND HONG KONG TO BECOME POST-1997.

(C) THE CHINESE SIDE IN THE TALKS HAVE ALSO EXERTED PRESSURE ON THE BRITISH SIDE TO PRODUCE IDEAS ON THE CENTRAL CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN INDICATIONS THAT THE CHINESE UNDER- STAND THAT HONG KONG CANNOT REMAIN STATIC UP TO 1997 AND THAT THE QUESTION OF ITS DEVELOPMENT BETWEEN NOW AND 1997 WILL HAVE AN IMPORTANT BEARING ON THE SUCCESS OF ANY POST-1997 APRANGEMENTS

WHICH MAY BE AGREED.

SECRET

THE.

53