TNAG-1443-FCO40-1927-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 105

GRS 200

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 30120OZ FCO

TELNO 3576

OF 301055Z OCTOBER 86

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

Secret

432

TOP COPY Q DIST ?

H K Kauli

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

31 OCT 1986

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

REGISTRY

PA

Action Taken

PERSONAL FOR HUM, HKD, FROM GOVERNOR

YOUR TELNO 2416 PAPERS FOR OD(K)

1. I AM STILL DOUBTFUL ABOUT THE ASSERTION THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS TO LEGCO, FOR HOWEVER FEW SEATS, COULD IN ITSELF HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON POLITICAL AND SOCIAL STABILITY. WE HAVE AS YOU KNOW HAD DIRECT ELECTIONS AT THE DB AND THE COUNCIL LEVEL FOR SOME YEARS. PEOPLE HAVE BECOME USED TO THE HUSTINGS AND THE GENERAL EXCITEMENT OF AN ELECTION. IT IS TRUE OF COURSE THAT ELECTIONS AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LEVEL WOULD BE NEW, BUT I DO NOT MYSELF THINK THAT THE DANGER TO STABILITY LIES SO MUCH IN THEIR INTRODUCTION PER SE, IT WOULD LIE IN ANY CHANGE IN THE NUMBERS ELECTED AND HENCE THE BALANCE OF FORCES IN LEGCO.

2.

DESPITE THE APPARENT DIFFERENCE OF VIEW ON THIS MATTER, I WOULD BE CONTENT WITH THE REVISED PARAGRAPH 34 IN PARA. 4 OF TUR, SUBJECT TO THE DELETION OF THE LAST 9 WORDS OF THE PENULTIMATE SENTENCE.

3.

I AM CONTENT TO PUT THE PAPERS TO EXCO ON 11 NOVEMBER. WOULD BE GRATEFUL TO KNOW DESKBY 060030Z OF ANY FURTHER CHANGESSHMWLJ V BKVFHQR

YOUDE

YYYY

HMLNAN 4019

LIMITED

HKD

PS

PS! MR RENTON

HR GILLMORE

DR WILSON

Secret

433

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