TNAG-1719-FCO40-2399-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 240

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28

COZAAH

Za. lagre, & with R mak's commmdith.

We wand no work hard nor. Muided me. Party

странце

dissatis

wae on the

CONFIDENTIAL

both sides. Sume

FROM:

What mus

CO Hum

i

3

media.

4

DATE:

Minak

12/

CC:

Mr McLaren

Hong Kong Department

12 February 1988 6 5 PS/Lord Glenarthur

Mr Gillmore

Mr

private secretary Soudang ? Bate, MI Meyerms Obstment

HONG KONG: THE WHITE PAPER AND THE WAY FORWARD

minuto

а

1. The White Paper has gone down fairly well in Hong Kong. The

first reports from Hong Kong suggest that most people consider it a reasonable and sensible compromise: they tend to agree that changes

to the political structure should be gradual and prudent. Hong Kong

media coverage was mixed. Most editorials were moderate and

positive: commentaries were less so. The strong disappointment

expressed by Mr Martin Lee and his followers has been effectively

counterbalanced by more positive statements from other LegCo

members. Mr Heath's public comments were notably restrained and

statesman-like.

!

2.

The reception here was more negative. I think we have to

recognise that the public and parliamentary consensus on Hong Kong

has been considerably shaken. Our policy will from now on come under closer and more hostile scrutiny, in Parliament and by the

media, than before.

3.

The

Our first task must be to continue taking every opportunity to

explain and defend our policy on representative government.

Hong Kong Government plan to do more through the Hong Kong

Government Office and visiting officials. But it will continue to

be an uphill task. The British media do not generally have sufficient knowledge to make a really thorough analytical assessment

of the situation. There is great resistance to the notion that Hong

Kong people might be genuinely divided over the timing of direct

elections; or to the suggestion that Hong Kong's return to China in

1997 might impose particular constraints on constitutional

development in Hong Kong before that date.

CONFIDENTIAL

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