TNAG-1220-FCO40-1530-Democratic-representation-and-reform-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 32

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A, B

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E(37

The Governor of Hong Kong had already offered detailed suggestions on this question in Hong Kong telnos 1714 and 1925, which were submitted under my minute of 16 December. Mr Ricketts' minute of 19

December recorded comments by the Secretary of State.

4. Hong Kong telno 1973 contains a draft paper by the Governor which he would like to put to EXCO on 3 January. The District Boards

and Urban Council (and a proposed new Regional Council for the New

Territories) would become wholly elected. For LEGCO a system of

collegiate election would replace appointments by the Governor.

Unofficial members of EXCO would be elected by LEGCO rather than

appointed by the Governor. The Governor would be elected by an

electoral college and would be bound to accept the decisions of the Executive Council. This process could be completed by about the end

of this decade. The possibility of direct elections to LEGCO and

of the Governor, is left open, but there is no clear undertaking to

aim at this before 1997.

5.

In Hong Kong telno 1985, the Governor proposes to consult EXCO on 3 January 1984 on proposals for the creation of a Regional Council for the New Territories and for changes in the composition

and probably functions of District Boards. The idea would be to create a body with similar structure and functions to those of the

Urban Council. He intends to bring these changes into effect at the

next District Board elections in March 1985 and Urban Council

elections in March 1986. Before that he needs to set up an

inter-departmental working party to work out the necessary

administrative and legislative changes.

G

ARGUMENT

6. The Governor has framed his proposals in the context of the

problem of Hong Kong's future. One of his main objectives is to

ensure that, before 1997, Hong Kong has an established system of more representative government which will enable it to survive the

transition to the status of a Special Administrative Region of China

and to withstand Chinese interference thereafter. His proposals are

very much on the right lines. They have the virtue of being based on existing structures and thus attracting local confidence in a

sense of continuity.

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7.

We did however seek the Governor's views at official level on

two points (FCO telno 1326):

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