TNAG-1317-FCO40-1720-Future-of-Hong-Kong-meetings-of-the-Cabinet-Defence-and-Over-1984 — Page 138

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public interest has been aroused, and where positive steps

could be taken is the development of democratic government. If there were tactical benefits previously in HMG being seen to promote rather than discourage this, these are now likely to be far greater, given the wide support that this concept has now attracted. Even UMELCO may be

persuaded to accept the argument put forward by Dr Ding

among others, that representative government, if taken

far enough, quickly enough, may provide the best

guarantee of Hong Kong's autonomy after 1997. But the

argument for a step by step approach remains, and the attitude of the Chinese must be watched carefully.

Hong Kong Department 22 May 1984

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