GRS 220
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 3746
OF 12075OZ NOVEMBER 86
SECRETZK
ФІККО
Oull
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
13 NO 1986
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
MISTRY
PA
Action Taken
494
PAPERS FOR OD(K)
THE PAPERS ON
'REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT'' AND 'THE GOVERNOR AND THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE' WERE DISCUSSED AT THE MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HELD YESTERDAY, 11 NOVEMBER.
2. MEMBERS CONSIDERED THE PAPERS TO BE COMPREHENSIVE AND WELL
WRITTEN. THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC COMMENTS WERE RAISED WITH REGARD
TO THE PAPER ON REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT:
A) PARAGRAPH 9, SECOND SENTENCE.
MEMBERS NOTED THAT, DESPITE THE COMPREHENSIVE NATURE OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT'S SYSTEM FOR MONITORING PUBLIC OPINION, THERE WAS
STILL A NEED TO FIND BETTER WAYS OF ASSESSING THE VIEWS OF THE
''SOLENT MAJORITY'', WHICH WOULD BE CRUCIAL IN THE 1987. REVIEW.
B) PARAGRAPH 32, SECOND SENTENCE.
•
MEMBERS FULLY ENDORSED THE VIEW OF THE GOVERNOR WITH REGARD TO THE
POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT INTRODUCING AN ELEMENT OF DIRECT
ELECTIONS IN 1988.
C) PARAGRAPH 34, FIFTH SENTENCE.
WHILST NOT DISSENTING WITH THE VIEW EXPRESSED IN THIS SENTENCE, MEMBERS COMMENTED THAT IT WOULD BE EQUALLY TRUE TO SAY THAT
THERE WILL ALSO BE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN POLITICAL ACTIVITY IF AN ELEMENT OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IS NOT INTRODUCED. THIS IS BECAUSE IT IS WELL UNDERSTOOD BY ALL THOSE PRESSING FOR DIRECT ELECTIONS THAT, ONCE THE BASIC LAW IS PUBLISHED, NO FURTHER RADICAL CHANGE TO THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WILL BE POSSIBLE UNLESS IT CONFORMS TO ITS TERMS, AND IT IS THEREFROE VITAL TO HAVE THEIR VIEWS REFLECTED IN THE BASIC LAW. THE ROLE OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT MAY ALSO BECOME A FOCUS OF INCREASED POLITICAL AGITATION BECAUSE IT WILL BE ACCUSED OF HAVING BOWED TO PRESSURE FROM THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. SUCH AGITATION WOULD BE LIKELY TO CONTINUE EVEN AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF THE BASIC LAW.
YOUDE
HMLNAN
LIMITED
HKD
FED
PS
4608
PS/MR RENTON
MR GILLMORE MR
WILSON
SECRET
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