TNAG-1220-FCO40-1530-Democratic-representation-and-reform-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 33

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Development Towards Direct Elections.

10.

This

The Governor emphasises the need to move deliberately. is a fair point. Hong Kong have to adapt already to the prospect of traumatic change. There is the danger that increased "democracy"

could simply lead to factional strife and to that "turmoil" which

the Chinese Government might see as a reason to intervene early.

11. However the problem of 1997 cuts both ways. The Governor

himself is keen to set up a viable system more representative of popular opinion well before 1997. He sets store by the need to respect traditional Chinese ideas and the habits which have grown up

in Hong Kong. This is right. But if we move too slowly and in particular if we are not seen as aiming at a fully democratic system

before 1997, there is a risk that we should leave behind a partially

developed system which the Chinese would be able to exploit after we

had gone.

In

12. We must take account of Chinese sensitivities. Sir P Cradock has drawn attention to the possibility that Peking could object to

K moves towards democracy before 1997 (Peking telno 1396). We shall

need to watch this carefully. On the other hand we have to face the

fact that the Chinese have their own ideas on 'democratic'

development. We must avoid their taking control of the process.

this context, Ji Pengfei's comments at his meeting with Sir P

Cradock on 19 December (paragraph 4 of Peking telno 1377) are

particularly significant. If the Chinese are thinking of a Parliamentary system in which they would act as the midwives after 1997, it may be the more important that we should establish one

before then.

13. I think therefore that we should ask the Governor to retain

the basic pattern of his proposals but to include in them the clear objective of reaching a fully elective system over the next 15

years. I do not think that we should try to tie him down to the

exact form that that system should take. In other words, while I

believe that we should encourage development towards direct

elections to LEGCO, we should leave it open whether the Governor

would continue to be elected by that body or eventually by the

electorate themselves.

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