TNAG-1391-FCO40-1863-Future-of-Hong-Kong-briefing-for-meetings-and-visits-1985 — Page 127

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ertainty removed by the agreement, and Hong Kong's economy benefitting from renewed confidence, the Financial Secretary looks forward to a return to balanced budgets in a year's time.

(ii)

in

>

a

FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT

7. Meanwhile

the aftermath of the agreement further stage in the development of representative government in Hong Kong is taking place this year:

(a) The second round of elections to the local government District

Boards took place in March. 213 seats were contested by nearly 500 candidates, and over 476,000 people, a third of the

registered electorate, voted.

(b)

A provisional Regional Council is being established to provide a regional representative body for the New Territories (having

the same functions as does the Urban Council for Hong Kong Island and Kowloon); and

(c)

1

In September the first (indirect) elections to Hong Kong's Legislative Council will take place, to select 24 of the

Council S 56 members. A further review of progress towards

representative government will take place in 1987 before

next Legislative Council elections scheduled for 1988.

3

the

Hong Kong Department

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

8 May 1985

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