TNAG-1443-FCO40-1927-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 24

GRS 210

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO DESKBY 03090OZ FCOLN

TELNO 3608

OF 0303OOZ NOVEMBER 86

INFO PRIORITY PEKING

SECRET

462

PERSONAL FOR HUM, BKD FROM GOVERNOR.

YOUR TELNO 2447 : PAPERS FOR OD(K).

HIPOK 2011/1

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

06 NO 1986

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

465

See469

PA

Action Taken

1. I HAVE ONLY 2 COMMENTS ON THE FURTHER CHANGES IN PARA 14. THE FIRST IS THAT I WOULD PREFER TO DELETE THE PHRASE **(AT PRESENT PROBABLY A MAJORITY)'' WHICH YOU HAVE INTRODUCED IN THE FOURTH SENTENCE. I DO NOT THINK WE CAN HONESTLY SAY THIS: FOR EXAMPLE, A RECENT POLL COMMISSIONED BY BBC NEWSNIGHT AND CARRIED OUT BY SURVEY RESEARCH HONG KONG LTD SHOWED THAT 82 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION WERE IN FAVOUR OF DIRECT ELECTIONS BEFORE 1997. I WOULD PREFER IN ANY CASE TO AVOID MAKING A JUDGEMENT OF THIS SORT AT THIS STAGE.

2. I REALISE THAT PARA. 32 MENTIONS A ''MINORITY''. THIS IS, HOWEVER, INTENDED TO REFER TO THOSE WHO ARE IN FAVOUR OF DIRECT ELECTIONS FOR THEIR OWN SAKE. AS PARA. 33 MAKES CLEAR, THERE ARE OTHERS WHO WILL ACCEPT DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1988 FOR OTHER REASONS.

3. MY SECOND COMMENT RELATES TO PARA. 5. THERE ARE IN FACT 8 HONG KONG MEMBERS OF THE BLDC SUB-COMMITTEE. WE HAD HITHERTO OMITTED THE CONVENOR, LOUIS CHA, WHO HAS NOW COME OUT PUBLICLY IN FAVOUR OF DIRECT ELECTIONS. THE PENULTIMATE SENTENCE SHOULD THEREFORE READ **

FOUR OUT OF THE EIGHT.''

YOUDE

YYYY

HMLNAN 4129

LIMITED

ико

PS

PSIMB BENTON MR WILSON

COPIES To:

MR FI FOOT,LEGAL

ADVS

SECRET