TNAG-1286-FCO40-16372-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong.-Part-2-of-2-1984 — Page 290

?GO

GRS 250

SECRET

SECRET

FM HONG KONG 1706552 JUL 84

TO IMMEDIATE F C O

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1980 OF 17 JULY

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

HRK

01113

RECEIVED IN REGISTA,

1 7 JUL 1984

ESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

A

See (208

YOUR TELNO 1281.

246

JAH

+2/2

FUTURE OF HONG KONG : DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.

1. BACKGROUND TO TA KUNG PAO STORY IS AS FOLLOWS. AN ELECTED OR APPOINTED MEMBER OF A DISTRICT BOARD (ALSO OF THE URBAN COUNCIL) IS PRESENTLY SUBJECT TO DISQUALIFICATION IF HE IS QUOTE **A MEMBER OF ANY PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLY OR COUNCIL, WHETHER CENTRAL OR LOCAL, OF A FOREIGN COUNTRY OR A SALARIED FUNCTIONARY OF A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT'' UNQUOTE. IN CONSIDERING XCC(84)72 EXCO ADVISED THAT THIS DISQUALIFICATION SHOULD BE EXTENDED ALSO TO APPLY TO CHAIRMEN OF RURAL COMMITTEES WHO SERVE ON THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARDS IN AN EX-OFFICIO CAPACITY SO AS TO PLACE THEM ON ALL FOURS WITH OTHER MEMBERS.

2. THE BAN ON ELECTED AND APPOINTED MEMBERS IS NOT NEW: IT HAS BEEN IN FORCE SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE URBAN COUNCIL AND OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME. THE ONLY CHANGE IS THE PROPOSED APPLICATION OF THE BAN TO CHAIRMEN OF RURAL COMMITTEES.

3. THE TA KUNG PAO STORY ARISES FROM MISUNDERSTANDING OR MISREPORTING OF THE POSITION. LEST IT SHOULD HAVE THE EFFECT OF ADDING MORE FUEL TO THE FIRE, IT IS NOT PROPOSED TO REACT TO THE STORY.

YOUDE

FUTURE OF HONG KONG

LIMITED

HD/HKD

HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF

HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)

LEGAL ADVISERS (SIR J FREELAND) PS

PS/LADY YOUNG

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

SIR C TICKELL

MR GOODALL

COPIES TO:-

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

PS/LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL PS/HOME SECRETARY

PS/CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

PS/LORD PRIVY SEAL

PS/SECRETARY FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY

COPIES TO:- (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT

MR BURROWS LEGAL ADVISERS

MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVISERS MR POWELL NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR INGHAM NO 10 DOWNING ST.

MR MARTIN ASSESSMENTS STAFF CABINET OFFIC MR CARTLEDGE CABINET OFFICE

MR BRENNAN

CABINET OFFICE

PS/S OF S FOR DEFENCE

PS/ATTORNEY GENERAL

SIR P CRADOCK ROOM K195

SIR P CRADOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST.

SECRET