TNAG-1368-FCO40-1814-Constitutional-reforms-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 19

Date

26.11.85 (Cont'd)

Statements by Chinese

Officials

Constitutional Reforms (25)

Statements by Government News Comments/Editorials

Officials

Statements/Comments by others

(Urban Councillor Joseph Chan, writing in Ta Kung Pao): While reforming local political system,

HK people should bear in mind that it could not be detached from the central Government of China.

A hight degree of autonomy did not mean independence.

(Source of TVB): China had requested to put political reforms in HK on the agenda of the Nov. 26 JLG meeting but

Britain was unwilling to discuss the matter before the 1987 review.

(Martin Lee): It would be beneficial to the drafting of the Basic Law if the development of representative government came earlier than the Basic Law because

experience in the reform

would serve as a

reference for the

drafting of the Basic Law.