TNAG-1220-FCO40-1530-Democratic-representation-and-reform-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 68

Note

Not set.

See (34)+(35).

011/3

HKK

RECEIVED IN

5 DEC 1983

DESK ONE-

SECRET

Дая

Rach yet file

Thad

My Monstr. See

745112

tel No 1714

14471

FROM: R D CLIFT HKD

DATE: 2 DECEMBER 1983

32

CC: PS

PS/PUS

Mr Giffard

Mr Thomson FED

Mr Donald

PS/Mr Luce

INDEX

NO

KEJ

HONG KONG : DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE UP TO 1997

PROBLEM

A

1.

To respond to proposals in Hong Kong telno 1714 to make

institutions in Hong Kong more representative and to minimize the

opportunities for Chinese interference after 1997.

RECOMMENDATION

*

2. I recommend that the Governor's proposals should be accepted in principle, subject to two qualifications, and that he be authorised to draft a paper for the Executive Council. A draft telegram is

attached.

|OLO/I

B

BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENT

3.

In April, the Governor sent us a draft paper outlining his initial ideas on increased popular participation in the Government (attch'd) of Hong Kong.

4. Hong Kong telno 1714 refines the Governor's previous ideas in

the light of the talks with the Chinese. He believes that the

internal strength of the Government structure will be a key element

in adding credibility to any guarantees for Hong Kong after 1997.

The ability of the system to command confidence in Hong Kong will

depend largely on the extent to which we can bring some of the

arrangements that we envisage into force before 1997.

5. The Governor's proposals can be summarized as follows:

(a) District Boards

ad

now being reviewed to see if they might by stages become entirely elected and in what areas they might

be given local executive power (paragraph 3);

(b) Regional Councils

review now in hand to see how the