GPS350 SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 2254
OF 21050OZ OCTOBER 85
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
SECRET
FUTURE OF HONG KONG : ELECTORAL SYSTEM
o/s
ᅲ
HK TO BUT
RECEIVED IN READ
OF
22 CCT 1985
CEEX OFFICER
INDEX
PA
WITH THE LEGCO ELECTIONS BEHIND US, ATTENTION IN HONG KONG IS ALREADY TURNING TO THE 1987 REVIEW. THE MAIN ITEM OF PUBLIC DEBATE FROM NOW ON WILL BE THE ROLE OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IN CONSTITUTING THE POST 1987 LEGISLATURE. THIS DEBATE WILL NOT BE OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S MAKING. THE INITIATIVE WILL LIE WITH LEGCO MEMBERS AND THE MEDIA. MR. MARTIN LEE Q.C. HAS SAID THAT HIS FIRST MOTION IN LEGCO WILL BE TO PROPOSE A DEBATE ON WHETHER HONG KONG SHOULD HAVE DIRECT ELECTIONS TO LEGCO. OTHER LEGCO MEMBERS MAY TAKE UP THE THEME. THE PRESSURE GROUPS AND MEDIA WILL CONTINUE TO BE VOCAL ON THE THEME.
2. IT IS NOT TOO EARLY FOR US TO START CLEARING OUR OWN MINDS ON THIS ISSUE. THE LIMITS OF CHINESE FLEXIBILITY WILL BE ONE, BUT NOT THE ONLY ONE. WE SHALL NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT OPINION ON THIS
ISSUE IN WESTMINSTER AS WELL AS IN HONG KONG. AND IF WE LET THINGS
RIDE FOR TOO LONG WE RISK HAVING TO DEAL WITH A BANDWAGON IN EITHER
OR BOTH PLACES. INDEED SUCH TRENDS WOULD BE MUTUALLY REINFORCING.
HONG KONG PRESSURE GROUP SPOKESMEN WILL TAKE GOOD ACCOUNT, AS THEY ALWAYS DO, OF THE SUPPORT WHICH THEY CAN GENERATE AT WESTMINSTER.
EQUALLY THEY WILL LISTEN CLOSELY TO STATEMENTS BY VISITING MPS,
OF WHOM WE HAVE A GOOD NUMBER, AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
3. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, I SHOULD GREATLY WELCOME A DISCUSSION
WITH THE MINISTER OF STATE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH ON LIKELY
TRENDS IN PARLIAMENTARY. FOR THAT PURPOSE IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL
IF THE DEPARTMENT COULD PREPARE A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF THE
LIKELY PARLIAMENTARY ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE OBVIOUS VARIANTS OF
DIRECT ELECTIONS 1.E. NONE: A LIMITED PROPORTION OF LEGCO TO BE
DIRECTLY ELECTED: OR FULL DIRECT ELECTIONS BY SAY 1991.
216
Y
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YOUDE
FUTURE OF HONG KONG
LIMITED
TOP
44
HD/HKD
HD/FED
HD/PLANNING STAFF
HD/PUSD
DEP/HD/PUSD
RESEARCH D (MR WALKER)
PS
PS/LADY YOUNG
6137~~~T
COPIES TO:
3
MR ROBERTS
7
MR FIFOOT
2
MR MARTIN
7
SIR P.CRADOCK
PS/MR RENTON
1
MR WOOD
PS/PUS
SIR W.HARDING
1
DR WILSON
1
SECRET
NEWS DEPT. LEGAL ADVISERS ASSESSMENT STAFF
CABINET OFFICE NO.10 DOWNING ST.
LEGAL ADVISERS
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