TNAG-1718-FCO40-2398-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 51

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FÖRBIOS SC. INTERVÍKV "WORLD AT ONE" 10 FEB 1988

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INTERVIEWER:

all?

So au commitment was given about direct elections in 1988 at

FORBIGE BECRETARY:

Xo.

Vo bove

There was a commitment to review the matter.

reviewed it and throughout the matter there has been a general recognition of the desirability of moving towards direct elections. Indeed, tho Agrooment with the Chinese Government provides that the Legislative Council at that time shall be created by elections - it

is not stated whether direct or not and most people have

-

recognised, therefore, that we are going to move down this road.

The question has been a matter of timing, and on timing

opinion in Hong Kong has been very sharply divided, just as it has

in the House of Commous as well, and we have concluded that the next

step forward should take place ip 1991.

INTERVIEVIR:

But why 10917 Why not 19887

FORBIGE SECRETARY:

Because the Legislative Council in its present form was only

coustituted in 1985 and the Hong Kong Government White Paper

published today takes the view that it is sensible to leave that

broadly unchanged from 1985 through to 1991. That represents a

sensible judgemont.