28.
Redacted under FOI Exemption S 27(1)
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And we have sought
to reassure Hong Kong opinion that the 1987 review will be a genuine and open one, which we are approaching without preconceived ideas.
Prospects
29.
Our approach to the development of representative government in Hong Kong has throughout been a very cautious one. We have *Sought to build on local institutions and traditions. This approach has been welcomed by the people of Hong Kong. They have shown a consistent preference for gradualism, and a strong concern that social stability should not be endangered.
30.
Many people in Hong Kong will continue to take this view and will not wish to see the 1987 review leading to dramatic changes. 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 direct elections 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 wald increase nervousness among the business community.
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