TNAG-1288-FCO40-1639-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 122

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26

28. IT WAS PROPOSED IN THE GREEN PAPER THAT A PEVIEW SHOULD TAKE PLACE IN 1989, AFTER THE SECOND ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAD BEEN HELD IN 1988, WITH A VIEW TO DECIDING, IN PARTICULAR, THE FUTURE POSITION OF APPOINTED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND OTHER POSSIBLE MIXES OF MEMBERS ELECTED BY THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES. IT WAS FURTHER STATED THAT OTHER TYPES OF ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF DIRECT ELECTIONS, MIGHT BE CONSIDERED IN THE

REVIEW.

27 29. THERE WAS STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE IDEA THAT

THERE SHOULD BE A REVIEW AND THAT IT SHOULD OCCUR BEFORE 1989.

IT WAS ARGUED THAT THIS SHOULD TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE 1988 ELECTIONS AND THE SECOND PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT. THIS WOULD GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FURTHER CONSULTATION ABOUT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT INCLUDING SUCH QUESTIONS AS THE INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT

ELECTIONS.

30. 'A' IN THE LIGHT OF THIS STRONG PUBLIC FEELING ON THE TIMING OF THE REVIEW AND BEARING IN MIND THE REVISED COMPOSITION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN 1985 DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH 27 OF TANS WHITE PAPER, WHICH AMOUNTS TO BRINGING FORWARD SOME OF THE ORIGINAL PROPOSALS FOR 1988 TO 1985, THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO BRING FORWARD THE REVIEW TO 1987.

OR

'B' CLEARLY IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO CONSIDER EVENTUALLY WHAT FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS MAY BE REQUIRED DURING THE 1990'S ON THE BASIS OF AN ASSESSMENT OF WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVEDB EFOREHAND. HOWEVER, IT IS FELT THAT THE REVISED COMPOSITION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO SETTLE DOWN AND DEVELOP PROPERLY BEFORE A MAJOR REVIEW IS UNDERTAKEN. IT IS THEREFORE INTENDED THAT A REVIEW WILL BE UNDERTAKEN AT AN APPROPRIATE TIME IN THE FUTURE WHICH WILL BE DECIDED IN DUE ·

COURSE.

DIRECT ELECTIONS

25 31. THE RELATIVE MERITS OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT ELECTIONS

ATTRACTED CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC INTEREST AND COMMENT. HOWEVER

THERE WAS LITTLE EVIDENCE OF SUPPORT IN PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE

TREEN PAPER FOR ANY MOVE TOWARDS DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1985. WITH FEW

EXCEPTIONS THE BULK OF PUBLIC RESPONSE FROM ALL SOURCES SUGGESTED

A CAUTIOUS APPROACH WITH A GRADUAL START BY INTRODUCING A VERY

SMALL NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS IN 1988 AND BUILDING

UP TO A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS BY 1997.

PROPOSALS THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS SHOULD

ALL BE RETURNED BY DIRECT ELECTIONS WERE IN THE MINORITY.

THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE GENERAL PUBLIC CONCERN THAT TOO RAPID PROGRESS TOWARDS DIRECT ELECTIONS COULD PLACE THE FUTURE

STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG IN JEOPARDY. IN SUMMARY,

WHILST MOST PEOPLE FAVOURED THE IDEA OF DIPECT

ELECTIONS VERY FEW WANTED THEM IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.

CONFIDENTIAL

/FURTHER