TNAG-1443-FCO40-1927-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 113

JALATP(ii)

SECRET

REVISED TEXT OF PARAGRAPH 34

At the same time the practical significance of the introduction of a

directly elected element should be kept in proportion. In the immediate future only a small number of the seats on the Legislative

Council would be involved. This might not in itself present real problems for the Chinese. They seem however to fear that it would

be merely the first step on the slippery slope to a

fully

directly-elected legislature. As far as Hong Kong is concerned,

direct elections will not in themselves guarantee autonomy after

1997: this will need to be achieved by a

by much wider variety of

means. But the introduction of even a few directly elected seats in

1988 is at present seen as a matter of symbolic significance by substantial sections of Hong Kong opinion. On the other hand the

introduction of direct elections, even for only a few seats, would

involve a significant stepping-up of political activity

in Hong

Kong, which could affect stability however carefully it was handled. We will need to keep all these points very firmly in mind when we

consider whether a directly elected element should be introduced in

1988.

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