TNAG-1448-FCO40-1947-Executive-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-meet-1986 — Page 93

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The state of opinion in Hong Kong on the 1987 Review

13.

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. Many continue to fear that too rapid an

evolution of representative government would lead 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 to attract greater public

interest than any other issue. Views are divided. Those opposed to the introduction of a directly elected element in 1988 argue that the Hong Kong community is not ready for such a development, which could be destablising. Those in support

maintain that this is the only way of ensuring an evolution of

a genuinely representative government, capable of sustaining the "high degree of autonomy" provided for in the Joint Declaration. Where the composition of the legislature in 1997 is concerned, there seems to be a widespread acceptance, even among many of the more conservative business and professional groupings, that the direct election of up to 25% might then be tolerable, and might neutralise demands for even more radical

change. The division of opinion in the BLDC sub-group on the

structure of Government, in which a number of the Hong Kong members are at present against the introduction of direct elections even after 1997, is probably not a true reflection

of the opinion of the community. Most of the public debate is in fact now tending to focus on the timing of the introduction of a directly elected element and on the proposition of members of the legislature to be selected by this method.