TNAG-1326-FCO40-1738-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1984 — Page 52

CONFIDENTIAL

27. In this connection I know that many noble Lords will

have read with interest the White Paper on constitutional

development which has been published by the Hong Kong

Government. This provides for substantial development towards representative institutions in the 1985 elections and

the prospect of further development in this direction after a

review in 1987. That review will also consider the question

of direct elections. The Hong Kong Government's proposals take into account the general desire expressed during the

consultative process for the proposals to avoid any sudden

and dramatic changes which could prove unsettling to the

territory.

I

28. The success of the agreement will depend not only the governments of China and the UK, but in a large part on the people of Hong Kong and their willingness to make it work. am confident that they will rise to this challenge, and that

they will make the territory even more successful than it is today. We for our part will remain utterly committed to Hong Kong up to 1997 as the administering power. Thereafter I am sure that Hong Kong and Britain will remain closely connected through a complex of economic, cultural and personal ties, as the agreement provides.

CONFIDENTIAL