TNAG-1220-FCO40-1530-Democratic-representation-and-reform-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 63

THE CHINESE ATTITUDE

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4. THE CHINESE ATTITUDE TO CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT WAS SEEN AS

THE BARRIER TO PROGRESS IN THE PAST. THEY THEMSELVES ARE NOW

TALKING OF SELECTING THE FUTURE GOVERNOR BY ELECTION AND

CONSULTATION''. THEIR CONCEPT OF ''ELECTION IS NO DOUBT VERY

DIFFERENT FROM OURS: BUT IN THE PUBLIC MIND AT LEAST THIS DEVELOPMENT

WILL WEAKEN THE ARGUMENT THAT THE CHINESE ATTITUDE IS THE BARRIER

TO THE EVOLUTION OF A MORE DEMOCRATIC STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT.

THE SOURCE OF AUTHORITY

5. WE HAVE TOLD THE CHINESE THAT IN PUTTING FORWARD PROPOSALS ON

THE BASIS OF THEIR PLAN WE SHALL NOT SUGGEST ANY LINK OF AUTHORITY

WITH THE U.K.

THIS WOULD REMOVE THE EXISTING SOURCE OF THE GOVERNOR'S AUTHORITY.

ANY ARRANGEMENT UNDER WHICH THE GOVERNOR DREW HIS AUTHORITY FROM

HIS APPOINTMENT BY PEKING WOULD DAMN THE ARRANGEMENT IN THE EYES OF

HONG KONG. THE POLITICAL SOURCE OF HIS AUTHORITY WILL THUS HAVE TO

BE SEEN TO BE IN HONG KONG. (THIS MIGHT NOT EXCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY

OF A FORMAL CONFIRMATORY APPOINTMENT BY PEKING OF HONG KONG'S

CHOICE.)

THE SOURCE OF CANDIDATES

6. THERE IS NO PARTY POLITICAL PROCESS IN HONG KONG KONG WHICH

COULD GENERATE A CHOICE BETWEEN A FEW OBVIOUS CANDIDATES OF TERRITORY

WIDE POLITICAL STATURE, OR A CHOICE BASED ON CANDIDATES WHO WILL

THEMSELVES HAVE EMERGED FROM THE ELECTIVE PROCESS.

THE DANGERS OF ALLOWING A PARTY POLITICAL PROCESS TO BE CREATED

IN HONG KONG ARE SET OUT IN MY TUR.

GIVEN THE TRADITIONS OF THE CHINESE COMMUNITY, AND THE ABSENCE

OF AN ESTABLISHED ELECTIVE PROCESS, IT IS JUST AS LIKELY THAT THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR WILL BE FOUND, NOT IN THE ELECTED

BODIES, BUT OUTSIDE, ON THE STRENGTH OF HIS OR HER STANDING IN THE COMMUNITY GENERALLY. TO SURVIVE, THE GOVERNOR WOULD NEED TO BE

NOT ONLY SUFFICIENTLY INDEPENDENT TO GIVE ASSURANCE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, BUT ALSO ACCEPTABLE TO PEKING AS NOT HOSTILE TO THE IR

INTERESTS. WE WILL THEREFORE NEED TO THINK IN TERMS OF AN ARRANGEMENT

WHEREBY A LOCAL CONSULTATIVE PROCESS COULD LEAD TO A CHOICE

CONFIRMED BY ELECTION.

THE SCOPE OF THE ELECTORATE

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7. AN ELECTION FOR THE POST OF GOVERNOR, BASED ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ALONE WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TO GIVE HIM SUFFICIENT AUTHORITY AND STANDING IN THE COMMUNITY. NEVERTHELESS THE BODY OF ELECTORS SHOULD NOT BE TOO LARGE TO RULE OUT A PRIOR STAGE OF INFORMED CONSULTATION. A COLLEGIATE ELECTION BY ALL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE REGIONAL COUNCILS AND DISTRICT BOARDS WOULD BEST SERVE THE PUPPOSE. EVEN NOEW THIS ELECTORATE WOULD COMPRISE NEARLY TWO HUNDRED MEMBERS. IT WOULD GROW DEPENDING ON THE EXTENT TO WHICH IT WAS DECIDED TO PHASE OUT APPOINTED MEMBERS ON THE REGIONAL COUNCILS AND DISTRICT BOARDS OVER THE NEXT DECADE (PARAS 3 AND 4 OF MY TUR): AND TO THE EXTENT THAT AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE OF PROFESSIONAL AND COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATIONS WAS IN PLACE TO SUPPLY SEVERAL MEMBERS OF EXCO/LEGCO. ONCE THE PATTERN WAS ESTABLISHED, THE WAY WOULD BE OPEN TO MOVE, IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE RIGHT, TO DIRECT ELECTION OF THE GOVERNOR BY ALL REGISTERED VOTERS.

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GOVERNOR.