TNAG-1443-FCO40-1927-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 132

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30.

MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO ARGUE FOR A

VERY CAUTIOUS AND GRADUALIST APPROACH TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF

REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER THE PAST TWO OR THREE YEARS

HAVE SEEN THE EMERGENCE OF A MORE POLITICAL ELEMENT IN THE HONG

KONG COMMUNITY, WHO CRITICISE WHAT THEY SEE AS A PERPETUATION OF

UNDESIRABLE COLONIAL FEATURES IN THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF

GOVERNMENT. THEY HAVE TAKEN THE LEAD IN DEMANDING A FASTER PACE

OF CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE AND IN PARTICULAR AN ELEMENT OF DIRECT

ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN 1988. THE PROPONENTS OF

THESE IDEAS ARE AT PRESENT A MINORITY, BUT THEY ARE A VERY VOCAL

ONE WHOSE VIEWS ARE GIVEN WIDESPREAD COVERAGE IN THE MEDIA. ON

THE OTHER HAND THE INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT ELECTIONS WOULD

INCREASE NERVOUSNESS AMONG THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND IN MANY

OTHER PARTS OF SOCIETY.

31.

WE CANNOT PREDICT WITH ANY CERTAINTY HOW THE VIEWS OF THE

PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ON THE ISSUES TO BE COVERED IN THE 1987

REVIEW WILL DEVELOP. DIRECT ELECTIONS FOR A NUMBER OF SEATS IN

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL BE THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE, AND

GIVEN THE DEEP DIVISIONS THAT ALREADY EXIST IT IS LIKELY THAT NO

CLEAR CONSENSUS ON THIS SUBJECT WILL EMERGE. IT WILL UNDOUBTEDLY

BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THAN IN THE PAST TO REACH A DECISION THAT

WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE MAJORITY, INCLUDING THE LESS VOCAL

ELEMENTS IN HONG KONG SOCIETY.

32.

THE SITUATION IS COMPLICATED BY THE FACT THAT THE KNOWN

CHINESE OPPOSITION TO DIRECT ELECTIONS HAS CAUSED MANY PEOPLE IN

HONG KONG TO SUPPORT THEIR INTRODUCTION IN 1988 NOT FOR THEIR OWN

SAKE, BUT AS A SYMBOL OF HONG KONG'S ABILITY TO ACQUIRE AND

RETAIN THE QUOTE HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY UNQUOTE PROMISED IN THE

JOINT DECLARATION. THIS FACTOR IS SO SIGNIFICANT THAT IN THE

VIEW OF THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG IF SOME ELEMENT OF DIRECT

ELECTIONS IS NOT INTRODUCED IN 1988 THERE IS LIKELY TO BE AMONG

MANY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG A SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION IN CONFIDENCE IN

THE WILLINGNESS OF HMG TO RESIST CHINESE PRESSURE, IN THE

WILLINGNESS OF THE CHINESE TO CONCEDED TRUE AUTONOMY TO THE HONG

KONG SAR AND IN THE CREDIBILITY AND AUTHORITY OF THE HONG KONG

GOVERNMENT. FOR OTHERS IN HONG KONG, HOWEVER, CHINESE OPPOSITION

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