TNAG-1443-FCO40-1927-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 177

1

CONFIDENTIAL

to instability and the divisive effects of party politics.

14.

Accordingly many people in Hong Kong will not wish to see the 1987 review leading to dramatic changes. However the question

of introducing a directly elected element into the Legislative

Council continues

attract greatest public interest. Views are

divided. Those strongly in support of introducing a directly

elected element maintain that this is the only way of ensuring the

evolution of a genuinely representative government, capable of

sustaining the "high degree of autonomy" provided for in the Joint

Declaration. Those against argue that

argue that the Hong Kong community is not ready for such a development, which could be destabilising. However the debate is now focussing increasingly on the timing of the introduction of a directly elected element, (on an assumption

that this will come at some point before 1997) and on the proportion of Legislative Council members to be selected by this method. There

seems to have been an acceptance, even among many of the more

conversative business and professional groupings, that the direct

election of up to 25% of the Legislative Council would be tolerable:

and might neutralise demands for even more radical change. However business groups are in private becoming increasingly doubtful about the wisdom of introducing a directly elected element in 1988.

15.

Despite recent controversy surrounding the role of appointed

members there is still a wide measure of public support for

retention of significant appointed

a

element in the Legislative

Council. The system of indirect elections based on functional constituencies is also generally supported, and there are calls for its further expansion.

16.

Members

There is less unanimity of view on the electoral college as a basis for indirect elections to the Legislative Council. of the District Boards and two regional councils will probably support its retention, because it provides them with direct access to membership of the Legislative Council. However there is concern that membership of the electoral college is too narrowly-based.

If

the concept is to be retained there is a widespread feeling that the

of system

election should be changed to avoid the unpleasant factional rivalries within District Boards which developed in 1985.

CONFIDENTIAL

R