TNAG-1451-FCO40-1955-Hong-Kong-Regional-Council-Ordinance-and-elections-1986 — Page 139

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5. THE CLEAR MESSAGE OF THESE ELECTIONS IS THAT THE OLD ORDER IS

CHANGING. THE INFLUENCE OF THE TRADITIONAL ORGANISATIONS, (E.G. KAIFONGS, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, THE HEUNG YEE KUK) HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY CHALLENGED IN THE NEWER URBAN AREAS BY YOUNGER CANDIDATES BASED FIRMLY IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO

MOBILISE SUPPORT FROM THE LARGE HOUSING ESTATES. THIS IS A VERY

SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT. IF THE PATTERN WERE TO BE REPEATED IN

ELECTIONS AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LEVEL, IT WOULD MEAN IN EFFECT

THAT DIRECT ELECTIONS WOULD BE A SORT OF FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY

FOR THE 'GRASS ROOTS' AND PARTICULARLY HOUSING ESTATES (ALTHOUGH

WHETHER THE SOCIAL WORKERS ARE REALLY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE VIEWS

OF ESTATE RESIDENTS, OR WERE SIMPLY CLEVERER IN EXPLOITING THE

OPPORTUNITIES PRESENTED BY CONCENTRATED CAMPAIGNS WITHIN THE ESTATES

IS AN OPEN QUESTION).

6. THE FIRST FEEDBACK FROM DISTRICT OFFICERS ON THE PRIVATE

REACTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL SUGGESTS THAT THE TURNOUT RATE

WAS CONSIDERED SATISFACTORY, BUT THAT THE HIGH PROPORTION OF SOCIAL

WORKERS AND TEACHERS AMONG THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WAS

CONSIDERED UNHEALTHY''. *IN MANY MINDS IT CAST DOUBT ON THE

DESIRABILITY OF HOLDING DIRECT ELECTIONS TO LEGCO IN 1988.

7. WE ARE CONSIDERING THE POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS FOR THE

1987 REVIEW, ON WHICH WE WILL TELEGRAPH SEPARATELY.

YOUDE

LIMITED

HKD

FED

NEWS D

INFO D

PLANNING STAFF

RES D

PS

PS/MR RENTON

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING

MR WILSON

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CONFIDENTIAL

Fco 40/1955