TNAG-1230-FCO40-1543-Visit-by-Richard-Luce--Minister-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Com-1983 — Page 182

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members of every race and nationality. It recommended the decriminalisation of consensual sexual conduct in private between

two males provided both are 21 or more years of age; and the tightening up of legislation protecting minors and public decency.

The Hong Kong Government has not yet decided whether to adopt any or all of the report's recommendations. There has been considerable media interest in the report. Most public comments

have been strongly against the decriminalisation proposal.

PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT

4.4 The absence of democratic institutions in Hong Kong has given

rise to protests in some quarters that the general public should

have a greater say in the way the Territory is run. Because of the

Territory's special position vis-à-vis China, and the fact that 92%

of it is held on a lease, there is no possibility of its ever

becoming independent. The normal policy in Dependent Territories of encouraging local democratic procedures, as part of the process of moving towards self-government and ultimate independence, can therefore only apply in a limited way to Hong Kong.

4.5 The Hong Kong Government are aware of the need, because of

these special circumstances, to devise ways of making the government

more responsive to public opinion. In selecting Unofficial Members

of the Executive and Legislative Councils, the Governor has

endeavoured to make the Councils representative of as broad a cross-

section of Hong Kong society as possible. A large number of

official and unofficial advisory committees and community

organisations have also been developed as channels of communication

between the Government and the public, notably the District Boards in the urban areas and the New Territories (see paragraph 1.8).

DRUG TRAFFICKING

4.5 There are an estimated 40,000 drug addicts in Hong Kong; about 97% of these are dependent on heroin, and the remainder on opium.

Hong Kong grows no opium, and virtually all illicit drugs come through Thailand from the "Golden Triangle", the area overlapping

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