TNAG-1717-FCO40-2397-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 101

DSR 1 Revised Sept 85)

DRAFT: minute/letter/teleletter/despatch/note

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Mr Simon S M Lee

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Reference

ROTABI

Your ReferencSTMAN

Copies to:

*PSE RETURN DISC

ASAP TO HKD*

Thank you for your letter of 11 January.

I note the importance which you attach to the

introduction of direct elections into Hong Kong's

Legislative Council this year. But it seems clear that

while there is a strong trend in public opinion in Hong

Kong that supports the introduction of direct elections

well before 1997, views are sharply divided as to whether

this should happen in 1988.

I

I hope that the debate on Hong Kong which was held on

20 January in the House of Commons will have served to

make clear the Government's position on this matter.

also trust that it will have demonstrated that there is

no question of any broken promises or of the Government

having gone back on any commitments to the people of Hong

Kong on the subject of direct elections.

There was

never at any stage a commitment by HMG to introduce

direct elections in 1988. I enclose a copy of the