TNAG-1288-FCO40-1639-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 107

CONFIDENTIAL

For discussion

on 30 October 1984

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MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

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ED REGISTRY

The Further Development of RepresentativeV4

Government in Hong Kong

FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE..

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Introduction

On 2 October 1984 Members noted Acting Chief Secretary that -

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"following the Council's advice on memorandum XCC (84)107 on 15 September, Ministers had been consulted on the proposed informal elections by the functional constituencies in (July) 1985. Ministers had replied that they did not support this approach since: (a) this retraction might cast doubt on the sincerity of the Hong Kong Government's intentions to proceed towards representative

government, and (b) the draft Agreement on the future promised an elected legislature after 1997. Accordingly, it has

it has been decided to provide further time to enable legislation governing election by the functional constituencies to be prepared, if necessary by postponing the first elections to September 1985."

Date of election

2

the

The position has

has been examined and it has been concluded that it would not be possible for legislation to be framed and introduced in time for the elections to be held in July 1985, given that it would need to be in place by January to allow completion of the necessary statutory and other arrangements, including the compilation and publication of the electoral rolls.

3

For the elections to take place in September, the legislation would require to be in position by the

the end of March. It is considered that this deadline, although extremely tight and providing no margin for slippage, could be met. It is accordingly proposed that the elections should be postponed until September 1985 and that this date should be reflected in the White Paper.

CONFIDENTIAL

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