TNAG-1438-FCO40-1922-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 158

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

Date

Statements by Chinese

Officials

9.1.86 (cont'd)

Constitutional Reforms (52)

Statements by Government News Comments/Editorials

Officials

Statements/Comments

by others

unofficial channels to conduct an "empty review" in 1987. Two other sources who had direct knowledge about the JLG discussions had denied

that the Chinese side had obtained a veto power

over political development in HK.

(Ming Pao): Direct elections might bring harm to HK's basic requirements and existing lifestyle.

(Yu Kam-yin of HK Economic Journal): The bone of contention over reforms was whether the Governor and the Exco would remain as the real power base. If Legco was constituted by general elections and became above the Exco and the Governor, Peking would consider this a deviation

from the Joint Declaration.

(HK Economic Journal reported) (Source close to the Government): The 1987 review would not propose any change to the relationship between Exco and Legco or to the position of the Governor. It would be confined to the composition of Legco and the question of direct elections in order to steer the review away from the key parts of the political structure to head off a conflict with Peking. This would also allow the drafting of Basic Law to take the lead over the development of representative

government.

(Mirror Magazine, quoted by HK Economic Journal): The JLG meeting in March would continue to discuss the compatibility between the Basic Law and reforms in HK. If the JLG could not come to an agreement, the matter would be referred to their

respective government.

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