CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPM
GRS 200
CONFIDENTIAL
FM PEKING
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 1173
OF 07232OZ JULY 86
NINFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
HONG KONG TELNO.2123: HONG KONG AGREEMENT:
RESTRICTED:
THE QUESTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS.
THEY
1. IF THE 1987 REVIEW REFLECTS A CONSENSUS OF SUPPORT IN HONG
KONG FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF SELECTION OF A PROPORTION OF LEGCO
MEMBERS BY DIRECT ELECTION AND THE CHINESE ARE PREPARED TO
RESPECT THAT CONSENSUS, THEY ARE LIKELY TO PREFER ARRANGEMENTS UNDER WHICH DIRECT ELECTION OF LEGCO CANDIDATES CAN BE CONTROLLED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. A MAJOR CONCERN WILL BE TO DISCOURAGE/ PREVENT THE EMERGENCE OF POLITICAL GROUPINGS OR ''PARTIES''. WOULD THUS BE MORE LIKELY TO PREFER SOME FORM OF PRE-SELECTION PROCESS, PROBABLY GEOGRAPHICALLY BASED, TO ARRANGEMENTS WHEREBY ANYONE ELIGIBLE TO STAND FOR ELECTION COULD PLACE HIMSELF OR HERSELF ON A LIST OF CANDIDATES. THEY WOULD REASON THAT PRE-SELECT-ION WOULD BE MORE LIKELY TO IDENTIFY CANDIDATES WITH A WIDER BASE OF
POPULAR SUPPORT AND WOULD THUS BE LESS LIKELY TO LEAD TO A
POLARISATION OF OPINION.
2. WE WOULD EXPECT THE CHINESE TO FAVOUR ARRANGEMENTS WHICH PREVENTED
CANDIDATES FROM CLAIMING A TERRITORY-WIDE FOLLOWING AND PREVENTED
THE EMERGENCE OF LARGE NUMBERS OF CANDIDATES. WE WOULD ALSO EXPECT
THE CHINESE TO SEE THE FORCE OF THE ARGUMENTS IN PARAGRAPHS 6 AND
15 OF TUR.
EVANS
HONG KONG AGREEMENT: RESTRICTED
LIMITED
COPIES TO:
HD/HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH DEPT (FE)
DEP/HD/PUSD
PS/MR RENTON
SIR W HARDING MR WILSON
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
HKKOU!i
REC
25 JUL 1986
ABB
CONFIDENTIAL
330
川
01/1.
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