TNAG-1372-FCO40-1818-Ministerial-visits-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 120

3

CONFIDENTIAL

T

223

GRS 650

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 2223

OF 18102OZ OCTOBER 35

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING

VISIT OF MR RENTON

HHK 02716

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

2 1 OCT 1985

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

PA

ch

REGISTRY

Action Taken

COPY

BRIEFING TELEGRAM: FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT

LINE TO TAKE

1. MOVES TOWARDS MORE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG FULLY CONSISTENT WITH ANNEX 1 OF THE JOINT DECLARATION. HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS RESPONDING TO NATURAL DEMAND IN HONG KONG FOR A GREATER DEGREE OF PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT. PART OF BRITISH RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG UNTIL 1997 (SPELT OUT IN ARTICLE IV OF JOINT DECLARATION).

2. HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FULLY CONSCIOUS OF NEED TO AVOID THREAT

TO STABILITY. HAS SOUGHT TO BUILD ON EXISTING INSTITUTIONS AND RETAIN BEST FEATURES OF WELL-ESTABLISHED PRACTICE OF GOVERNMENT

BY CONSENSUS.

3. OVERRIDING NEED TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG'S SOUND FINANCIAL

POSITION. HENCE CAREFUL MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY RETAINS A SUBSTANTIAL VOICE.

4. FIRST ELECTIONS TO LEGCO WENT OFF WELL: OUTCOME REASSURING AND ENCOURAGING. IMPORTANT TASK IS TO YAKE NEW LEGCO WORK. CANNOT DRAW ANY CONCLUSIONS ON NEXT STEPS UNTIL THE EXPERIENCE

GAINED OF PRESENT STAGE.

BACKGROUND

5. THE 1935 REFORMS BRING HONG KONG TO THE STAGE OF HAVING DIRECT OR INDIRECT ELECTED INPUT AT THREE LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT.

NEARLY TWO THIRDS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE 19 DISTRICT BOARDS ARE DIRECTLY ELECTED. THE URBAN COUNCIL (NOW) AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL (IN APRIL 1986) HAVE RESPECTIVELY ONE HALF AND ONE THIRD DIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS, OUT OF 56 MEMBERS, 12 ELECTED BY FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUTENCIES AND 12 RY ELECTORAL COLLEGES COMPOSED OF THE DISTRICT 20ARDS AND OF THE URBAN COUNCIL AND PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL. THE GOVERNMENT'S STEADY EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH HAS GONE SMOOTHLY AND HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE LARGE MAJORITY.

MAIN ISSUES

6. NEXT STAGE IS THE REVIEW IN 1937. KEY ISSUES LIKELY TO BE WHETHER DIRECT ELECTIONS TO LEGCO SHOULD BE INTRODUCED, AND IF SO WHAT PROPORTION OF MEMBERS SHOULD BE SO ELECTED.

CONFIDENTIAL

A

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