TNAG-1720-FCO40-2400-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-1988 — Page 61

CONFIDENTIAL

機密

3

REACTION TO THE WHITE PAPER: THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE

GOVERNMENT: THE WAY FORWARD

This paper reflects the views expressed, both locally and overseas, publicly and privately, on the contents of the

The majority of opinions centred on the issue of

White Paper.

Direct Elections to the Legislative Council.

Direct Elections to the Legislative Council

2.

The decision to introduce direct elections to the

Legislative Council (LegCo) in 1991, provoked a considerable response from all sources. This resulted in the expected mixture

of reaction with the democratic elements decrying the decision not

to introduce direct elections in 1988. District Officers reported

that the majority of people who were contacted (Mutual Aid, Area and Rural Committees) were in favour of the proposal contained in the White Paper. They expressed little surprise over the contents,

and welcomed the introduction of an element of direct elections in

1991. A few respondents commented that, by mapping out a time-

table for the introduction of direct elections well before the

completion of the Basic Law, Britain had engineered a diplomatic victory.

3.

The majority of respondents believed that China had considerable influence in the drafting of the White Paper. However, this belief had apparently not adversely influenced their views on its acceptability.

4.

The Housing Department's Community Information Report reflected the grassroots level of opinion. These views were gathered on an informal basis from a variety of sources including residents of Public Housing Estates, Temporary Housing Areas and Squatter Areas. There was a general low key reaction to the White

Paper.

The gradual change in representative government was welcomed because maintaining stability, prosperity and public

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