TNAG-1283-FCO40-1635-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 83

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JULY 1997. WE ARE ALSO AWARE THAT THE QUESTION OF DEMOCRATIC

DEVELOPMENT IS BEING INCREASINGLY AIRED IN HONG KONG. WE

OBVIOUSLY NEED TO AVOID GIVING THE CHINESE THE CHANCE EITHER TO

TRY TO VETO OUR PROPOSALS BECAUSE THEY REGARD THEM AS GOING TOO

FAR OR CONVERSELY TO CLAIM THAT THEY ARE INSUFFICIENTLY

'DEMOCRATIC' AND TRYING TO STEAL OUR CLOTHES.

5.

FOR THIS PURPOSE WE SHOULD HAVE READY A FULL, BUT NOT

DETAILED ANSWER TO THE CHINESE. WE SHOULD BE PREPARED TO SEE AT

ANY RATE THE GIST OF IT PUBLISHED, BECAUSE THE CHINESE ARE LIKELY

TO LEAK. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF IT SET OUT CLEARLY OUR INTENTION

TO MOVE TO A FULLER ELECTIVE PROCESS, BUT WITHOUT SPECIFYING THE

METHOD (EG DIRECT OR INDIRECT ELECTIONS). WE SUGGEST THAT IT

SHOULD BE ON THE FOLLOWING LINES:

(A) WE BELIEVE THAT CONSTITUTIONAL EVOLUTION IN HONG KONG, IN ORDER TO COMMAND CONFIDENCE, SHOULD BE ON THE BASIS OF EXISTING

STRUCTURES. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT OUR WORKING PAPER TALKS

IN TERMS OF EG EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, DISTRICT

BOARDS ETC.

(B)

HOWEVER WE SEE A NEED FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICULARLY FOR A

MORE REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM. WE ARE THEREFORE AIMING AT

PROGRESSIVELY GREATER USE OF ELECTIVE SYSTEMS AT ALL LEVELS OF

GOVERNMENT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. ONE MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION

WILL BE AN INCREASE IN THE ELECTORAL ELEMENTS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL

IN 1985 AND 1986.

(C) THUS OUR WORKING PAPER TAKES ACCOUNT OF THE FACT THAT THE

PRESENT FRAMEWORK OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG WILL REMAIN BUT THAT

THERE WILL BE CHANGES IN THE METHOD BY WHICH DIFFERENT BODIES OR

INDIVIDUALS ARE CHOSEN OR APPOINTED. THE ESSENTIAL POINT IS THAT

THE INSTITUTIONS WILL BE CREATED WITHIN HONG KONG.

6. IF WE ADOPTED THIS MORE GENERAL APPROACH, THE TIMETABLE IN

PARA 3 OF TUR COULD BE CONSIDERABLY SHORTENED.

HOWE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD/HKD

FID/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

D/HD/PUSD (MR FLOWER)

RES.D. (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISER (SIR IAN SINCLAIR

FS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR J BULLARD

SIR W HARDING

MR DONALD

KIR WRIGHT

SIR C TICKELL

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COPIES TO:

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL

PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS

HR BURROWS

NEWS D

LEGAL ADVS

MR COLES NO 10 DOWNING ST

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENT STAFF CABINET OFFICE

MR GOODALL CABINET OFFICE

MR BRENNAN CABINET OFFICE

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE D

PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR P CRADOCK RM K195

BIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING STREET

SECRET