TNAG-1469-FCO40-1998-Visits-by-members-of-the-Office-of-the-Unofficial-Members-of-1986 — Page 54

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whether it would be necessary for the question to be considered and

resolved in

favour of direct elections. In the latter case, many

people who did not really want direct elections would say they were

in favour simply to test HMG's willingness to face up to the Chinese

on the issue.

15.

Mr Oswald Cheung said he was not sure this was a problem.

The Chinese had selected the members of the BLDC to represent different views in Hong Kong. The Secretary of State agreed with this point. The BLDC membership might not be as representative as

could be wished, but among them were a significant number who wanted

direct elections. It would be hard for the Chinese to dismiss such

views, since they had chosen the members.

16.

Miss Dunn said the main point must be that the 1987 Review

should be seen to be genuine; that HMG and HKG should make it clear

that they had no fixed views in advance about the outcome.

17.

Dr Wilson noted that even if the Chinese accepted the need

for a genuine consultation, with the option of direct elections

remaining open, there might be a sticking point for them. They

might hold that it was not for HMG to introduce direct elections

these in 1988, but

1988, but for them, the Chinese, to say in the Basic Law

what proportion of members of the legislature should be directly

elected. The Secretary of State agreed with this point; so did

Miss Tam, who added that the Chinese were still getting very

in Hong Kong.

different

advice

from

different

sources

as expressed in the

Industrialists and others were still saying to Chinese visitors that

they were apprehensive about direct elections. It was by no means

clear whether the demand for direct elections

1987 Review would be strong enough. When

whether we should introduce direct elections,

Chinese, this would require careful discussion

to experts!

18.

it came to deciding

or leave this to the

-

perhaps better left

Miss Dunn noted that the more HMG and HKG gave the impression

that they did not favour direct elections, the more people would ask

for them. The Secretary of State noted that there would be views at

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