TNAG-1310-FCO40-1667-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 162

5. I TOLD SIR S Y CHÚNG THAT THERE WERE TWO OTHER ISSUES WHICH

COULD WELL COME UP IN THEIR TALKS WITH MPS: THE EXTENSION OF

REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT AND ELECTIONS TO LEGCO: AND HOW OPINION

SHOULD BE TESTED IN HONG KONG. ON THE FIRST, SUBJECT TO EXCO'S AGREEMENT TOMORROW, THE CHIEF SECRETARY WILL TELL UMELCO AT THEIR

MEETING ON THURSDAY MAY 3 THE MAIN PRINCIPLES OF OUR PLANS FOR

DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT (INDIRECT ELECTIONS BASED

ON AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND MEMBERS REPRESENTING PROFESSIONAL **

CONSTITUTUENCIES). EXCO HAVE ALREADY AGREED THAT LEGCO UNOFFICIALS

SHOULD BE CONSULTED ON THESE ISSUES BEFORE THE GREEN PAPER IS

PUBLISHED.

6. ON THE TEST OF ACCEPTABILITY, I HOPE IT CAN BE AGREED THAT THE

PAPER ON THIS ISSUE CAN BE PUT TO EXCO FOR THEIR COMMENTS ON

TUESDAY, MAY 8. SUBJECT TO THE OUTCOME OF THAT MEETING, SIR SY CHUNG COULD THEN HIMSELF BRIEF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE UMELCO

DELEGATION BEFORE THEIR VISIT TO LONDON. ON BOTH ISSUES UMELCO

WOULD BE ASKED TO PRESENT OUR IDEAS, NOT AS FIRM DECISIONS, BUT AS

REFLECTING THE PRESENT STATE OF THINKING HERE. THEY COULD THEN

DISCOURAGE MORE RADICAL IDEAS REGARDING IMMEDIATE DIRECT ELECTIONS OR

A REFERENDUM ON ACCEPTABILITY WHICH MIGHT BE PUT TO THEM.

7. I SHOULD BE GRAFEFUL FOR ANY COMMENT YOU HAVE DESKBY 30233OZ

YOUDE

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}