TNAG-1284-FCO40-1636-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 119

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AND

(111) THE CHINESE HAVE ALREADY BEEN INFORMED IN OUR WORKING PAPERS AND STATEMENTS AT THE TALKS OF OUR INTENTION TO INTRODUCE A HIGHER DEGREE OF AUTONOMY, OF OUR PLANS TO PROCEED BY WAY OF INDIRECT ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE AND EXECUTIVE COUNCILS, TO SELECT THE GOVERNOR BY AN ELECTORAL PROCESS IN THE FUTURE. THEY HAVE NOT REACTED ADVERSELY AND I DO NOT CONSIDER THAT WE SHOULD BE DEFLECTED FROM PUBLISHING OUR PROPOSALS AS SET OUT IN THE GREEN

PAPER IN JULY ON THIS ACCOUNT.

(IV) WE SHALL NOT KNOW FOR CERTAIN HOW PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WILL REACT TO THE PROPOSALS ABOUT THE GOVERNOR UNTIL WE PUBLISH THEM. BUT WE MUST SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S POSITION: THE PUBLIC REACTION IS LIKELY TO BE BETTER TO A REASONABLY COMPLETE SET OF PROPOSALS COVERING LEGCO, EXCO AND THE GOVERNOR THAN IT WOULD BE TO ONLY TWO THIRDS OF THE PICTURE. IN ANY EVENT THE PROPOSALS CONCERNING THE GOVERNOR WOULD BEGIN TO COME INTO EFFECT BETWEEN 1986, WHEN HE WOULD CEASE TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND WHICH IS NOT SO FAR AHEAD, AND 1992.

YOUDE

LIMITED

HD. HKD MD. FED

MR WILSON

COPIES TO SIR PCRADOCK.

HR BURROWS,

LEGAL ADVISERS.

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