TNAG-1288-FCO40-1639-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 10

XCC (84) 111

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In the light of strong public feeling on the timing of the review, and bearing in mind the changes in the composition of the Legislative Council in 1985 proposed in this memorandum, which amount virtually to bringing forward the original proposals in the Green Paper for 1988 to 1985, it is proposed to advance the review to 1987. The position will

The position will also be kept under continuous review between 1985 and 1987 in the light of developments during that period.

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There has been little specific

comment on the Green Paper's two possible options for the composition of the Legislative Council in 1991.

Direct elections

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introduction of

The Green Paper explained why the

why direct elections to the Legislative Council would not be appropriate at present. It also stated that further would be given to this

this possibility in due course, popular support for the idea develop.

thought should

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This subject, predictably, has attracted by far the most public comment. Many groups and organisations, the Urban Council's Standing Committee of the Whole Council, students and a number of articulate commentators have argued strongly for direct elections, and various pools

pools of public opinion have demonstrated a substantial majority in favour of

in favour of the general principle. Nevertheless, there is по doubt that the great

majority favour a start being made with indirect elections and those who favour direct elections propose their gradual introduction, starting in three or four years time, with the ultimate aim of establishing a mainly elected government. Overall, the general view is that a gradual start should be made in introducing direct elections to the Legislative Council in about 1987 or 1988, with a view to achieving a majority of elected members on the Council sometime before 1997.

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One of the main difficulties in introducing direct elections gradually by stages would be that in the initial stages the constituencies would be too large, in terms of population, for the elected members to represent their constituencies satisfactorily. It would therefore be necessary to ensure that a fairly large number of directly elected members was introduced staightaway, so as to ensure that their constituencies were a reasonable size. Furthermore, it would not be sensible to have two types of populist members those elected by an electoral college and those elected by direct elections

sitting in

the in the Legislative Council at time. If

If direct elections were to be introduced it therefore be necessary to abolish the electoral college.

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same would

CONFIDENTIAL **