TNAG-1468-FCO40-1997-Visits-by-members-of-the-Office-of-the-Unofficial-Members-of-1986 — Page 9

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22 Chen Kızlı Da Lat 15/9

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23 SEP 1986

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CALL ON MR RENTON BY EXCO MEMBERS

1.

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FROM: P J WESTMACOTT

DATE: 10 September 1986

CC: PS

PS/PUS

Dr Wilson News Dept

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PA & MICH Mill

The visiting team of EXCO Members, minus Sir S Y Chung and Eric Ho, but led by the Governor, called on Mr Renton for an hour on 9 September. The conversation continued over a working lunch at Lancaster House, at which the PUS was present.

2.

The Unofficials mentioned several areas of concern, on which they looked to HMG to give a lead. In general, they seemed pleased with the assurances they received. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly throughout.

GENERAL SITUATION

16ix

3. Lydia Dunn said that the new-style LegCo had worked well until Daya Bay had become a political issue. The influx of indirectly-elected members had caused LegCo to take more account of constituency interests, and had made more consultation necessary. Elected members already had an eye on the 1988 elections, and were therefore looking for issues with which to make their name. Daya Bay was just such an issue. It was a matter of great concern to many people in Hong Kong, but a small number of politically-motivated LegCo members had magnified the problem for their own ends.

4.

Dr Wilson asked whether there was tension between elected and appointed members. Miss Dunn replied that the polarisation was more evident between, on the one hand, those who wished to go faster down the path of democratisation and, on the other, those who had reservations about direct elections.

The public divisions between EXCO members over Daya Bay had been noted with disquiet by the business community, who were reinforced in their view that constitutional development should not proceed too fast. Alan Lee commented that these differences had also reinforced the doubts of NCNA representatives about direct elections.

/DAYA BAY

CONFIDENTIAL