TNAG-1438-FCO40-1922-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 36

Date

Statements by Chinese

Officials

4.2.86

Constitutional Reforms (66)

Statements by Government News Comments/Editorials

Officials

Statements/Comments

by others

Deputy Chief Secretary Alan Scott: A Green Paper on political reforms would be published in M 1987 and a White Paper would come out towards the end of that year. The Government did not have pre-conceived ideas on the direction of political reforms at the present stage.

Non-communist papers

(Ming Pao): Any

politic 1 forms in HK before 1997 had to be in line with the Joint Declaration. HK could have an increased elected element in the administration but the

responsibility for administering the

territory had to rest ultimately with the British Government.

(HK Economic Journal) : The paper disagreed with suggestions by Lord

Kadoorie and Sir Y.K. Pao

that HK should be

administered by

capitalists and

businessmen. It said

businessmen might have

the ability to make

money, but might not have the sense of social justice and

responsibility needed for a political career. Peking's over-reliance on business leaders would not be in the interests of HK in the long run.