TNAG-1597-FCO40-2182-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1987 — Page 160

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3.

DIRECTLY ELECTED ELEMENT INTO LEGCO, WILL BE FOR CONSIDERATION.

THE CHINESE REMAIN PROFOUNDLY SUSPICIOUS OF OUR MOTIVES

AND INTENTIONS. THEY NOW APPEAR TO ACCEPT, ALBEIT RELUCTANTLY,

THAT THE REVIEW MUST TAKE PLACE AND THAT THE GREEN PAPER MUST

REFER TO DIRECT ELECTIONS. BUT THEY CONTINUE TO INSIST THAT NO

DECISION SHOULD BE TAKEN TO INTRODUCE DIRECT ELECTIONS BEFORE THE

PROMULGATION OF THE BASIC LAW IN 1990. THEY HAVE ASKED TO SEE

THE TEXTS OF THE GREEN AND WHITE PAPERS LONG ENOUGH IN ADVANCE OF

PUBLICATION QUOTE TO PERMIT STUDY UNQUOTE.

4.

A PARAMOUNT CONCERN OF THE CHINESE IS TO AVOID A POSITION

IN WHICH OUR WHITE PAPER PROPOSES THE INTRODUCTION OF AN ELEMENT

OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1988. THEY CONSIDER THAT THIS WOULD

PRE-EMPT DECISIONS BY THEM ON THE POST-1997 ARRANGEMENTS WHICH

ARE TO BE ENSHRINED IN THE BASIC LAW. THEY WOULD THEN BE FACED

WITH A CHOICE 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.

THE PRESENT TIMETABLE FOR THE 1987 REVIEW

5.

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 QUOTE BY THE END OF 1987 UNQUOTE). 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. ON PRESENT PLANNING THESE WOULD TAKE

PLACE IN MID-OCTOBER AND EARLY NOVEMBER RESPECTIVELY.

THE CHINESE TIMETABLE FOR THE BASIC LAW

6.

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

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