Redacted under FOI Exemption S 27(1)
PM/84/51
HKCK. RECEIVED IN A
2011/3
DISTRY 20 MAR 1934
DESK OFFICEA
INDEX
PA
PRIME MINISTER
No
Quo
Future of Hong Kong:
REGISTRY
gon Fakon
3
(42) (96
See (100
HUD/ eeps
Ps fur huce Ps | Pus Sirw Harding Sir P Cradock Mr Thausen, PED Mr Burrows, Legal Ads
Hel Pla Staff
her Walker, Research Dept
Constitutional Development up to 1997
1. We discussed this at OD (K) on 11 January on the basis of
a paper by the Governor of Hong Kong. It was agreed then that
the general direction envisaged was right but that the detail
and pace of development would need further consideration.
EXCO Unofficials took the same view in a discussion on
16 January.
2.
We now need to decide a more precise strategy up to 1997.
We should aim at a more representative system
The choice is between moving rapidly towards
a system under which the Governor and/or the Executive and
Legislative Councils are elected directly, or for a slower
process of indirect elections that may or may not lead to
direct elections before 1997. The Governor and the members
of EXCO prefer the second alternative.
3.
The question is urgent because the talks in Peking will
soon be moving on to Agenda Item 2, (Development up to 1997). The Chinese will expect us to tell them of our proposals for constitutional development in Hong Kong up to 1997. We must
keep the process of constitutional development under our own
control and not give the Chinese the opportunity to claim
that they have the right of veto. On the other hand, in our
working paper on Constitutional Arrangements and Government
Structure we have asked the Chinese to confirm that the
composition, functions, procedures, powers and duties, and
/methods
SECRET
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.