TNAG-1438-FCO40-1922-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 177

JH1AGQ

BACKGROUND

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1.

In November 1984 the Hong Kong Government published a White Paper entitled "The Further Development of Representative Government

in Hong Kong". The Paper, which wa s endorsed by the Hong Kong Legislative Council (LEGCO)

(LEGCO) in January

in January 1985, proposed:

(a)

an increase in the number of Unofficial members of LEGCO and a decrease in the number of Official (ie civil servant) members;

(b) the selection of 24 of these Unofficials by indirect elections.

based on geographical and functional constituencies; and

(c) a further review of

of developments towards more representative

government, including the possibility of direct elections to

LEGCO, in 1987.

2.

While they have not objected to these developments as such, the

Chinese have expressed considerable concern through formal and

informal

channels

over

the

These

extent and

pace of further

"democratisation" in Hong Kong between now and 1997. A particular

point of concern to them

them is whether developments arising from the

1987 review will preempt their plans for Hong Kong's Government

structure post-1997, which will be emb od i ed in the Basic Law that

they are now drafting.

concerns were fully aired in the

second meeting of the Sino-British Joint Liaison Group in

in Peking

between 26 and 29 November, when both sides agreed that Hong Kong's

plans for further constitutional development up to 1997, and the

provisions to be included in the Basic Law, should a im towards a

"convergence" over the next 11 years.

3.

Chinese concern has since retreated slightly from the highpoint

of last November, but they remain acutely sensitive on this issue.

4.

any

Meanwhile neither HMG nor the Hong Kong Government have taken

final decisions on what if any

further developments should be

put forward for public discussion in the 1987 review.

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