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6. THE COMPOSITION OF THE LEGISLATURE.
(A) PARAGRAPH 7, FIRST LINE, ''CONFIDENTLY'' NOT ''CONFIDENTIALLY''
(B) PARAGRAPH 12, REPLACE LAST SENTENCE BY TO AVOID THIS ACCUSATION, THE TOTAL OF OFFICIAL AND OTHER MEMBERS ELECTED BY THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE WOULD HAVE TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER THAN THE TOTAL CHOSEN BY OTHER FORMS OF ELECTION.''
7. DIRECT ELECTIONS.
IN OUR VIEW. PARAGRAPH 5 ROUNDS OFF PARAGRAPH 4. THE TIME AND EFFORT REQUIRED FOR ELECTIONEERING IS CONSIDERABLE IN HONG KONG AND MANY SUNTABLE CANDIDATES WOULD FIND IT A SIGNIFICANT DETERRENT. THE PARAGRAPH COULD BE EXPANDED TO READ ''THERE ARE IN PRACTICE ALSO OTHER INHIBITIONS ON STANDING FOR ELECTION, E.G. POTENT WAL CANDIDATES MAY BE DETERRED BY THE AMOOUNT OF TIME, EFFORT AND MONEY REQUIRED IN CAMPAIGNING, OR BE UNWILLING TO ACCEPT THE LOSS OF SOCIAL STANDING IF THEY LOSE. IN HONG KONG HINGH QUALITY CANDIDATES WITH PROFESSIONAL OR SIMILAR CAREERS MIGHT CONSIDER THESE FACTORS A SIGNIFICANT DETERRENT.''
8. WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW DESKBY 03003OZ THE FINAL TEXTS CIRCULATED TO MINISTERS, AS WE ARE COMITTED TO RECIRCULATING THE PAPERS TO EXCO FOR THEIR MEETING ON 7 OCTOBER.
YOUDE
YYYY
HMLNAN 2695
HONG KONG AGREEMENT:
RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH DEPT (FE)
DEP/HD/PUSD
PS/MR RENTON
SIR W HARD ING
MR WILSON
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
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