TNAG-1284-FCO40-1636-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 109

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FROM:

H B Warren-Gash DATE: 11 June 1984

cc: PS/PUS

of the Secrety of State's

Sir P Cradock Sir W Harding Dr Wilson

Mr Clift, HKD

Concerns, which he will Mr Orr, FED

Private Secretary

Secretaryje discussing at his

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tomorrow

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Planning Staff

Ricketts

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HONG KONG: STRUCTURE

1.

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNMENT

Mr Luce saw a side copy of Mr Clift's submission of 8 June on this subject over the weekend. I understand the Secretary of State will be having a meeting to discuss this and other Hong Kong matters on 13 June. In the meantime, it may be helpful if I set down Mr Luce's

initial reflections:

i)

ii)

there may well be more public

and (at this end) Parliamentary support for direct elections than we think. It is therefore important that the paper should set out convincing reasons why we have come down in favour of indirect as opposed to direct elections. It might also be sensible to keep open the option of moving towards a greater degree of direct elections if it turns out that is what is wanted in the 1990s;

the proposals for the Governorship could give us real problems in asserting our authority in Hong Kong in the run up to 1997. If we want to be sure that Hong Kong really does have maximum autonomy by 1997, there may be no realistic alternative to an elected Governor with weaker powers vis-a- vis the Executive: but we should be very

clear in our own minds about the

implications for us in maintaining control in the vital final years;

SECRET

/iii)