TNAG-1220-FCO40-1530-Democratic-representation-and-reform-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 73

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representative Government in Hong Kong, which i

has included demands for elections.

2.

Ministers realise the difficulty of raising

the issue of direct elections with Unofficials

and the possibility that this could be linked

in their minds with HMG's attitude to the talks

on the future. They are also conscious that a

wrong interpretation may be given to the

introduction of this proposal so soon after

Mr Adley's visit. But they consider it right that

it should be considered and hope that it would be

included as a point for discussion with EXCO.

They

3. Ministers also believe that the introduction

ofthe Ministerial system described in paragraph 8

of TUR should not be postponed indefinitely.

see a well established ministerial system as an

important factor in the creation of a credible

autonomous government that could hope to stand up

to Chinese pressure after 1997 and have some

claim to be representative in the eyes of the

international community They agree that it should

not be introduced at this stage, but would hope

that our intention to bring it into effect later

should be clearly stated.

4.

Grateful if you could take both these points

into account in the paper you put to EXCO. In the

light of their views we shall need to consider

whether to include these points in a working paper

for the Chinese.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

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