T
(b)
The elective system in Hong Kong is in its infancy.
Under one million of the 2.7 million qualified to register to vote have done so. Of those registered,
less than 40% participated in the 1982/83 District
Board and Urban Council elections.
(c)
Moving too quickly could lead to rapid polarisation of
the community and might create a danger of political
rivalries, for instance between pro-Taiwan and pro-China
elements, with the obvious risks for stability that
this would bring.
(d) Power must be diffused to prevent domination and
manipulation by any political interest group.
For these reasons the Governor and EXCO, unanimously, consider
it best to build on existing structures and to proceed slowly
towards indirect elections giving the possibility of moving
to direct elections in the 1990's.
7. We need to take the Chinese attitude into account. Chinese
views on democracy in Hong Kong are far from clear. At all
events they are highly suspicious that we may try to exploit calls for "democracy" in order to negate in practice their
resumption of the right of administration under an agreement.
The Chinese would probably thus object to a proposal for direct elections in the immediate future, though they might be prepared to accept some form of indirect elections and
greater democratisation along the lines proposed by the
Governor. We must not discard our aim for this reason,
we must move carefully.
8.
but
Subject to your views, I propose that we approve the
Governor's recommendations in principle. He should circulate
his memorandum on constitutional development and the structure of government to EXCO for further discussion on detail.
We
SECRET
/should
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.