TNAG-1356-FCO40-1797-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 115

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30 APPOINTED MEMBERS TO BE REDUCED TO 22, 16 OFFICIAL MEMBERS TO BE REDUCED TO 10, AND OVERALL SIZE OF LEGCO TO BE INCREASED TO 56 IN ORDER TO MEET THE WIDE AND DIVERSE NEEDS OF PRESENT DAY HONG

KONG'. IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS THE DATE OF REVIEW WAS BROUGHT FORWARD TO 1987, BEFORE 1988 ELECTIONS. FINALLY, QUESTION OF DEVELOPMENT OF EXCO WAS LEFT TO 1987 REVIEW.

WHITE PAPER ENDORSED BY LEGCO JANUARY 1985. FIRST

TERRITORY-WIDE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS MARCH 1985. PROVISIONAL REGCO ESTABLISHED MID-1985. FIRST LEGCO ELECTIONS, BY ELECTORAL COLLEGE AND 12 FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, HELD SEPTEMBER 1985,

AND NEW LEGCO OPENED LAST MONTH.

13.

12.

THROUGHOUT THIS EVOLVING PROCESS, AIM OF HKG HAS BEEN TO COMBINE PROGRESS WITH STABILITY, IN ORDER TO SATISFY LEGITIMATE ASPIRATIONS OF A SOCIETY WHICH, AS THE THIRD LARGEST FINANCIAL CENTRE IN THE WORLD, HAS A STRONG INTEREST IN THE DECISIONS OF

GOVERNMENT. BELIEVE THE DELICATE BALANCE STRUCK HAS SO FAR

SUCCESSFULLY MET THESE AIMS. WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE THESE AIMS

PRUDENTLY IN YEARS AHEAD.

ENDS

HOWE

*HONG KONG AGREEMENT

LIMITED

HD/HKD HD/FED

HD/PLANNING STAFF HD/PUSD

DEP HD/PUSD

RES (MR WALKER)

PS

PS/MR RENTON

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

SIR J FREELAND

MR J CROWLEY PUSD

5-

COPIES TO: (VIA ADR)

MR ROBERTS NEWS DEPT MR FIFOOT LEGAL ADVS MR MARTIN ASST STAFF

CABINET OFFICE MR MALLABY CABINET OFFICE MR DRC CHRISTOPHER

CABINET OFFICE SIR P CRADDOCK NO 10 DOWNING ST. MR WOOD LEGAL ADVISERS

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