TNAG-1718-FCO40-2398-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 131

ROZAAK

CONFIDENTIAL

LORD GLENARTHUR'S MEETING WITH SIR P BLAKER AND OTHER MPS,

10 FEBRUARY 1988

REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT

Points to make

1.

Welcome this opportunity to brief you on HKG White Paper

published today.

2. White Paper marks significant step in development of

representative government. Covers wide range of issues connected

with representative government. Main decisions are that:

(a) ten directly elected members will be introduced into the

Legislative Council in 1991; this is of course the most

important and far-reaching decision;

(b)

in 1988 number of appointed members in Council will be reduced

from 22 to 20, and number of members elected by functional

constituencies will increase from 12 to 14. In 1991 the

present geographically-based electoral college system of

election will be abolished, but Urban and Regional Councils

will each continue to elect one member to the Council;

(c) links between the urban District Boards and Urban Council will

be strengthened;

(d) Governor will continue to be president of the Legislative

Council.

3. Consultative exercise launched by last year's Green Paper has

generated much debate, and unprecedented interest. We welcome this. Through all the discussions and debates clear consensus has emerged

on introduction of direct elections well before 1997, but sharply

divided views on timing. This consensus and division reflected at

all levels and all fora in Hong Kong.

CONFIDENTIAL