TNAG-1601-FCO40-2194-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1987 — Page 230

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ARPACE

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

HRB 011/2

RECEIVED A REGISTRY

Telephone 01-

270- 2650

1 1 JAN 1988

NEXGER

*

PA

12. $.

Miss D F Webster

608 Washington Street Wellesley MA 02181

USA

Your reference

Our reference

Date

30 December 1987

789

Dear Miss Webster,

Thank you for your letter of 25 November to Mrs Thatcher.

In your letter you refer to press comment that the British Government have broken promises to develop representative

This is not the case. Our intention to government in Hong Kong. proceed with the development of representative government in Hong Kong remains unchanged. We shall do so prudently and with full regard to Hong Kong's circumstances and the wishes of the community as a whole. ·

In considering this issue the British and Hong Kong Governments have taken care to consult the people of Hong Kong at every stage. This was the purpose of a review which took place in 1984. This was again the purpose of the review which began in May this year, which carries out in full the commitments made in the 1984 White Paper. The outcome of the current review will be published in a Hong Kong Government White Paper in February 1988.

The 1984 White Paper did not, as is suggested in the press cutting enclosed with your letter, contain a commitment that

It did no direct elections to LegCo would be introduced in 1988. more than record the state of public opinion at the time on the subject of direct elections to LegCo, and stated that the issue would be further considered in a review to take place in 1987. That commitment has been carried out.

I hope this explanation will help to reassure you about the attitude of the British Government towards Hong Kong.

Yours Sincerely A.R.Paul.

A R Paul

Hong Kong Department