TNAG-1220-FCO40-1530-Democratic-representation-and-reform-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 42

AC

GPS 350

SECRET

SEORET

FM HONG KONG 200935Z DEC 83

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1991 OF 20 DECEMBER 1983

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

OP COPY

HKCK 011/3

HOLLIVED IN DOGS

20 DEC 23

DANK OFFICEV

PERSONAL FOR DONALD FROM GOVERNOR

7

No

YOUR TELNO 1326: DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE”

35

1. YOU WILL HAVE SEEN THE ANSWER TO MOST OF THE POINTS YOU RAISED IN THE PAPER ON CONSTITUTIONAL AND GOVERNMENTAL DEVELOPMENT IN MY TELNO 1977 AND IN THE DRAFT PASSAGE ON

THE TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY IN MY TELNO 1976.

2. WE SHOULD KEEP SEPARATE THE ISSUE OF FUTURE CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE ISSUE OF ACCEPTABILITY. BOTH ARE IMPORTANT IN THEIR OWN RIGHT BUT ONE INVOLVES A ONCE-FOR-ALL EVENT WHILE THE OTHER INVOLVES PROGRESSIVE CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OVER A DECADE OR MORE. THE POINT AT WHICH THEY MIGHT INTERACT IS COVERED IN THE THIRD SENTENCE FROM THE END OF THE DRAFT IN

MY TELNO 1976.

3. AS REGARDS PARAS 3 AND 4 OF YOUR TUR WE SHOULD NOT BE LED AWAY FROM THE ESSENTIAL STARTING POINT WHICH IS WHAT WILL (NEXT WORD UNDERLINED) WORK IN HONG KONG GIVEN ITS PRESENT STATE OF POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY ATTITUDES. CONSIDERATIONS OF PARLIMENTARY PRESENTATION, INTERNATIONAL OPINION ETC MAY HAVE THEIR PLACE IN OUR CALCULATIONS BUT THEY CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT BE OUR FIRST CONCERN. YOU WILL SEE THAT IT IS NOT MY INTENTION THAT FULL SCALE DIRECT ELECTIONS TO LEGCO (OR FOR THE POST OF GOVERNOR) SHOULD BE RULED OUT ONCE THE COLLEGIATE ELECTORAL SYSTEM IS WELL ESTABLISHED. BUT IT WOULD SIMPLY NOT BE PRACTICABLE TO HOLD DIRECT ELECTIONS UNTIL THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE ELECTORAL AND PARTICIPATIVE PROCESS (WHICH IS IN ITS INFANCY HERE) HAS INDENTIFIED POLITICAL FIGURES, CREDIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY, WHO WOULD BE READY TO STAND FOR ELECTION. IT IS ALSO ENTIRELY CONCEIVABLE THAT THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY WILL FIND THE COLLEGIATE SYSTEM MORE IN

SEORET

/ KEEPING

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See (40)

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