TNAG-1283-FCO40-1635-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 199

•HKK 011/3

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

6 JAN 1984

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

Sex

Sex 2

PA

No!

Тик

нев

OP

HKK

011/3 (983) 56

HKK

011/3

(1983) 419

GRS350

SECRET

DESKBY FCO 05113OZ JAN 94

FM HONG KONG 051055Z JAN 84

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

SECRET

TELEGRAM NUMBER 36 OF 5 JANUARY

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

YOUR TELNO 1403: FUTURE OF HONG KONG: PAPER ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE.

I PUT THE PAPER TO EXCO AT TODAYS PART 11 MEETING.

THE FINAL TEXT INCORPORATED THE AMENDMENTS IN YOUR TUR.

THE COUNCIL HAD EARLIER ENDORSED (IN A PART 1 MEETING HELD IMMEDIATELY BEFOREHAND) THE PAPER DEALING WITH THE PROPOSED NEW TERRITORIES COUNCIL AND CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION AND FUNCTIONS OF DISTRICT BOARDS (YOUR TELNO 1380 OF 22 DECEMBER).

2. IN INTRODUCING THE DISCUSSION I EMPHASISED THAT THE PAPER HAD BEEN DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A BASIS FOR MEMBERS' DISCUSSION WITH MINISTERS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MORE REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG. IT WAS NOT INTENDED TO INDICATE ANY COMMITMENT ON THE PART OF MINISTERS OF ANY PARTICULAR COURSE OF ACTION. BUT THE QUESTION WAS IMPORTANT SINCE THE FUTURE PATTERN OF GOVERNMENT WOULD EITHER BE SET BY HMG, ACTING BEFORE 1997, OR BY THE CHINESE AFTER THAT DATE.

3. THERE WAS A UNAMIMOUS AND UNPROMPTED VIEW THAT PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT, BUILDING ON EXISTING INSTITUTIONS WAS THE RIGHT COURSE. NO MEMBER SPOKE IN FAVOUR OF MOVING DIRECTLY TO THE INTRODUCTION OF A FULLY ELECTIVE SYTEM: SOME THOUGHT THAT THIS WOULD BE INTERPRETED LOCALLY AS AN INDICATION THAT THE BRITISH WERE PULLING OUT. THERE WAS ALSO A GENERALLY FAVOURABLE REACTION TO THE PROPOSED COLLEGIATE SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY AS A MEANS OF GETTING OVER THE DIFFICULTY OF FINDING SUFFICIENT SUITABLY QUALIFIED PEOPLE FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FROM AMONG DIRECTLY ELECTED CANDIDATES FROM DISTRICT BOARDS AND REGIONAL COUNCILS.

SECRET

14.