TNAG-1721-FCO40-2401-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-delegati-1988 — Page 123

T

However,

demonstrates,

as

the

of

events

outlined below sequence

undeniable public perception

there is an

that

Britain undertook that there would be direct elections, and that

Since the term of

a representative government would be in place well before 1997,

when Hong Kong is to be handed back to China.

office of a Legislative Councilor is three years, it is difficult to see how a representative legislature can be firmly established

well before 1997 if direct elections for a small number of seats

were not to be introduced even in 1988.

1991

a schedule

If direct elections were not introduced in 1988, they

Such at the earliest. would not begin until

would not allow a representative local government to develop so that it would be ready to assume responsibility as the government

www

of a highly autonomous Special Administrative Region by 1997.

back.

It is axiomatic that one straw will not break a camel's

But if Britain were to fritter away half of the 12-year

transition period without introducting direct elections, is it

possible to characterise this as anything other than a breach of

undertaking and a shirking of governmental responsibility ?

introduce

As many will remember, the undertaking to democratic institutions was inextricably intertwined with

Sino-British Agreement on the future of Hong Kong.

the

with

Mr.

In April 1984, Sir Geoffrey Howe arrived in Hong Kong

after talks in Beijing

the

leader, Chinese

Deng

Xiaoping. Sir Geoffrey disclosed at a press conference that "it

would not be realistic to think of an agreement that provides for

Sir in Hong Kong after 1997."

following pledge: "During

continued British administration

Geoffrey also made the

the

years

2