TNAG-1355-FCO40-1796-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 17

ས---

Classification

SECRET

OUT TELEGRAM

ZCZC

1

ZCZC

TC

2

SECRET

CAVEAT

3

FM

4

FM FCO

ΤΟ

5

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TELNO

6

TELNO

OF

7

OF 221615 Z OCTOBER 85

AND TO

8

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

9

10

11

12

1.

Caveat

Precedence

[CJ 1A FU]

IMMEDIATE

13

YOUR TLENO 2254: FUTURE OF HONG KONG:" ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Our preliminary assessment is that the strength of

parliamentary support for direct elections to LEGCO will be

determined foremost by the degree of public support shown in Hong

14

15

Kong.

16

2.

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

///

26

27

28

29

Į

There is of course a natural and general Westminster bias

in favour of introducing direct elections wherever possible, and

as early as possible. However there was a widespread recognition

on all sides of the House of Commons in the debates on the

Agreement and the Hong Kong Bill that the pace and character of

constitutional change in Hong Kong must be determined firstly by

the territory's unique circumstances. Specific pressure during

these debates for direct elections to be introduced in Hong Kong

! was generally muted. Where members called for constitutional

change, they spoke in terms of the Hong Kong Government as a

whole, and LEGCO and EXCO in particular, becoming more

accountable to the people of Hong Kong. We would anticipate that

this general attitude in Westminster will change only if

"grassroots" pressure within Hong Kong for direct elections

//////////

YYYY

MAIN

File number

ADDITIONAL

NNNN

Dept

HKD

Authorised for Initials Date/time!

despatch by:

h

2441600

For COD Comcen reference use only

Catchword:

becomes

Drafted by (Block capitals)

CE LEEKS

Telephone no

4439

Telegram number

Processed by

XY 48 (REV)