TNAG-1441-FCO40-1925-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 92

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District Board elections, it does not therefore follow that the KMT now enjoys much influence or potential influence in the Boards. As the LIC report points out, the KMT were very pleased with their results.

At the higher level of URBCO and REGCO, the KMT was less successful. At LEGCO level they have one known KMT member, Pang Chun-hoi, though he now seems to be out of favour with the party. The communists have the very much in-favour and active CCP member Tam Yiu-chung; and a few other LegCo members have close links with them.

As for what to say to the Chinese about all this if they press us, I think we should play it down but without dismissing their concerns altogether. The District Boards are the weakest link. The line here should be to stress that party politics and political affiliations were not important in the elections. Candidates were judged on their local reputations. More generally, we might point out that the KMT does not command wide appeal in Hong Kong and that what appeal it does have appears to be getting weaker. We monitor their activities very closely and shall continue to do so.

Yours

Bos

ever

(R. N. Peirce)

Deputy Political Adviser

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