TNAG-1284-FCO40-1636-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 3

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Political implications

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Any system based on elections. will bring about a significant change in the political life of Hong Kong. Policy is at present formed through "consensus politics". Introducing elections at the level of the Legislative Council (and, by extension, to the Executive Council) will lead to the emergence of some candidates who will seek support on the basis of a reformist programme involving criticism of the Government and of the established groups who at present wield economic power. Other candidates will emerge to defend established positions and rights. Elections may well be contested on the basis of different views on central policy issues. In the proceedings in the Legislative Council, members may become less prone to seek consensus and more prone to adversorial debate. At the same time, given the general recognition in Hong Kong of the territory's delicate position in relation to China, the wish of the majority of the community to maintain stability as a means of sustaining autonomy may well act as a brake on the ambitions of political extremists and weaken support for those who seek

"rock the boat".

to

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The risks to stability can be reduced by giving time for political processes to develop gradually; by devising a system which will give maximum encouragement to responsible candidates to stand for the Legislative Council; and by introducing into

into the system the maximum opportunity for the traditional Chinese system of selecting Teaders through a consultative process to assert itself. The progressive development of the political structure through indirect elections set out in this memorandum is designed to reconcile these factors and to combine to the maximum extent possible the maintenance of stability with the extension of representative government.

District Boards and Regional Councils

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As pointed out in paragraphs 2 and 3 above, proposals have recently been made for the further development of the present system of local administration in Hong Kong, including

(a) a change in the composition of District Boards, involving an increase in the number of elected members with effect from 1 April 1985; and

(b)

the establishment of a second Regional Council, initially with an entirely appointed membership, but with a membership half appointed and half elected with effect from 1 April 1986.

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