TNAG-1597-FCO40-2182-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1987 — Page 115

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between reflecting the outcome of the 1987 Review in the Basic Law,

apparently under pressure from ourselves, or making no provision for

direct elections: a course which would lead to confrontation with

ourselves.

5. It is too early to draw settled conclusions from the leadership

changes now in train in China: but there is a distinct risk that

the greater restrictiveness which is emerging over questions of

domestic political reform will be reflected in a still more cautious

and less flexible attitude to constitutional change in Hong Kong.

THE PRESENT TIMETABLE FOR THE 1987 REVIEW

6. We have stated publicly that the Green Paper will be published

in the first half of 1987 (although some Hong Kong Government

officials have referred to April/May), that a period of public

consultation lasting four to five months will follow. and that a

White Paper will be published around the end of the year. (Sir E

Youde's last address to the Legislative Council referred to "by the

end of 1987".) Key events within the timetable will be the

production of the report of the Survey Office, to be established to

collect public views, and debate in the Legislative Council.

present planning these would take place in mid-October and early

November respectively.

On

THE CHINESE TIMETABLE FOR THE BASIC LAW

7. The work of the BLDC is now entering a more intensive and

detailed phase. But there has been some delay in the drafting of

sections of the Basic Law dealing with the political structure of

the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). In part this

delay may reflect uncertainty on the Chinese side, faced as they are

with divergent views among Hong Kong opinion. But the effect,

whether deliberate or not, is to make our own task more difficult

for the reasons elaborated below.

8.

The key dates in respect of the drafting of the sections on the

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