TNAG-1286-FCO40-16372-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong.-Part-2-of-2-1984 — Page 10

Prati Reaction

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Kon-Comentet Papers: Four papere, in six editorials,

commented on the Green Paper. Wah Xiu Zat Po (6.8) said the

Government should ➡ke sure whether Chim would allow the proposat representative system to continue here after 1997 to ensure that it would not go down the dra n after 13 yære.

In two editorials

the Express (6.8 and 9.8) said Peking would

not tolerate ER to become a wastern-style autonomous region with general elections and the formation of political parties, although it would permit the territory to continue its capitalist system.

Britain would have done far better had it introduced the

representative goverment here ten years ago. Had this been the case, there was now initial success already to be followed by a great success in another ten years. This system would then be presented es a "bitter cup" to Chine. Now the political climate had changed and Such 8 Britain had no alternative but to adopt indirect elections, representative government only existed in name and would not have, the strength to survive beyond 1997.

Ming Pao (8.8) anload FR sot to introduce drastic changes as Peking's "50 years no change" undertaking was given on the strength that the present systes in 8% would not change because Chica winted to mintain BK's present financial and coercial system which was beneficial to the country. It would be wrong for some British politicians to assume that Britain could transplant its democratic system in HK and pressat it as a fait accompli to him with an undertaking by Peking not to interfere with RK'a affairs in the nexĆ

13 years.