TNAG-1721-FCO40-2401-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-delegati-1988 — Page 50

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026557

MDLIAN 6586

SUPPORT OF DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1988.

THE FORMER GROUP ONLY BASED

THEIR ARGUMENTS ON STATISTICS IN THE SURVEY OFFICE REPORT. THE

LATTER GROUP POINTED OUT THAT THE AGB MCNAIR COMPANY HAD ADMITTED

THAT HAD THEY NOT BEEN SO RESTRICTED BY THE GREEN PAPER, THE QUESTION

ON DIRECT ELECTIONS IN 1988 IN THE QUESTIONNAIRE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO COMPLICATED. THOSE MPS WHO OPPOSED DIRECT POLLS IN 1988 DID

NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY TO THAT.

THERE ARE MANY INTERESTING POINTS OF DETAIL IN THE DEBATE WHICH

DESERVE CLOSER READING. LOOKING BACK ON ALL THESE CHANGES AND

ACHIEVEMENTS, ONCE CAN SEE THAT THEY ALL HAPPENED WITHIN ONE MONTH.

I THINK THAT WE SHOULD LET OTHER PEOPLE ASSESS THE MEANING AND

VALUE OF THE VISIT BY THE DELEGATION OF DEMOCRATS TO BRITAIN. BUT I

HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT WHETHER HK WILL HAVE A DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM AND

WHETHER HK WILL ENJOY A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY WILL HING ON THE

DECISIONS OF THE HK AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS NOW. SIMILARLY, THIS

DECISION WILL BE SUBJECTED TO A VERY CRITICAL ASSESSMENT BY HISTORY.

ENDS

WILSON

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HK GOVT OFFICE, LONDON

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