TNAG-1721-FCO40-2401-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-delegati-1988 — Page 143

individual letters or

questionnaires, those

favouring direct

elections in 1988 outnumber those opposing by wide margins.

Some people argue that Britain should wait until 1991,

after China has promulgated the Basic Law, before introducing

direct elections in Hong Kong. That way, they say, Britain will

avoid any possible conflict with the provisions of the Basic Law.

This argument does not stand up to scrutiny.

-

For waiting

waiting until 1991 would mean that seven years

would have gone by since the Agreement on Hong Kong before the

first step entailing only a small minority of seats is taken

towards establishing a directly elected legislature.

leave precious little time for the necessary second and third

steps,

legislature to gain experience

and

for such

a

confidence.

It would

and

Basic

China has said

for the

Such a three-year wait is unnecessary.

that the Basic Law would reflect the wishes of the people of Hong

Kong. If Hong Kong people want direct elections (as clearly

evidenced by all survey results), it is inconceivable that the

would Law

not provide for them. Allowing

possibility that the Basic Law may rule out direct elections is

to expect that the Basic Law will be a document to be forced down

the throats of the people of Hong Kong, something that China is

clearly not prepared to do.

Clearly, the Basic Law is intended to enshrine in the

form of a mini-constitution for the territory all the terms and

conditions contained in the Agreement and to reflect faithfully

both the letter and the spirit of the same. It is clear beyond a

peradventure that the introduction of direct elections in 1988 is

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