TNAG-1441-FCO40-1925-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 72

LBIAGE

BACKGROUND

RESTRICTED

Redacted under FOI Exemption S 27(1)

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 was endorsed by the Hong Kong Legislative Council (LEGCO) in January 1985, proposed:

(a)

(b)

(c)

an increase in the number of Unofficial members of LEGCO and a

decrease in the number of official (ie civil servant) members;

the selection of 24 of these Unofficials by indirect elections

based on geographical and functional constituencies; and

a

further review of developments towards more representative

government, including the possibility of direct elections to

LEGCO, in 1987.

2.

informal channels

over

the

extent

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

Chinese have expressed considerable concern through formal and

and pace of further "democratisation" in Hong Kong between now and 1997. A particular point of concern to them is whether developments arising from the

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

structure post-1997, which will be embodied in the Basic Law that

they are now drafting.

Chinese concerns have been somewhat allayed since last year but

on this issue remains a potentially sensitive one..

3.

4.

No final decisons have yet been taken on what further