TNAG-1440-FCO40-1924-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 21

JALAPP

SECRET

II THE QUESTION OF CONVERGENCE

1.

1985 both

the

During the meeting of the Joint Liaison Group in

Peking

November 26-29, on

sides agreed

agreed on

need to achieve convergence between any reforms to the structure of Government in Hong Kong before 1997 and the structure of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR after 1997, and to conduct discussions and exchange views on this subject without preconceived ideas.

the

2. The development of representative government in Hong Kong has been based on the principle of building on existing institutions which have served Hong Kong well; while allowing for further development, if that should be the wish of the community. Paper I

the describes how

present governmental institutions in Hong Kong operate in practice and the inter-relationship of the various elements in the government structure, in particular the Governor, the Executive Council and the Legislative Council.

3.

on

the

of

the

Paper III describes the present state of Hong Kong

opinion

further development

governmental system following the Review in 1987. Essentially there is likely to be little call for any fundamental change in the structure: the main attention is likely to be focussed on the question of introducing a number of directly elected

on that and

of the seats into the Legislative Council Presidency of that Council.

The Joint Declaration

4.

the

Under Article 3(12) of the Joint Declaration policies stated in the Declaration, and the elaboration of them in Annex I to the Declaration will be stipulated in the Basic Law: the Joint Declaration contains a number of provisions on the structure and operation of the future SAR government.

These are: