HONG KONG: REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT (BACKGROUND)
The Hong Kong Government (HKG) published on 26 May a consultative Green Paper on future developments in Hong Kong's representative government system. Following an undertaking given by the HKG during the last such review in 1984, the current paper includes the possibility of direct elections being introduced in 1988 to choose some of the territory's legislators (at present all members of the Legislature are either appointed by the Governor or elected by electoral colleges). Public comment on the issues in the Green Paper is being encouraged and an independent Survey Office has been established to collect views. Our position remains that we cannot yet anticipate the outcome of the current review: following the public consultations, a White Paper will be published in Hong Kong early next year.
The Chinese Government have expressed concern to us
at the possibility of direct elections in 1988. Under the terms of the Joint Declaration they are at present drafting, with the participation of Hong Kong people, a Basic law which will constitute a local constitution for the
post-1997 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. They are concerned that 1987 Review may pre-empt the Basic Law, which will nor be promulgated 1990. We remain in close touch with the Chinese authorities on many levels, explaining to them the way the review is developing. We are emphasising that we have no preconceived ideas on its outcome; that the review must be a genuine one in the light of our public commitments; and that we share the Chinese aim that Hong Kong's pre-1997 political structure, and that to be laid down in the Basic Law, should be compatible and capable of "converging" in 1997.
FCO
July 1987
999-80
THIS IS A COPY THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN
CLOSED UNDER
FOI EXEMPTION NO.
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