TNAG-1721-FCO40-2401-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-delegati-1988 — Page 82

SALAGF

Mr

McLar

Garen

227:

CONFIDENTIAL

FROM: R C L Footman

HEB 011/2

DATE :

CC

PA

39

N

22/1

Hong Kong Department

22 January 1988

Private Secretary

PS/Lord Glenarthur

Mr Gillmore

Mr Fifoot,

Legal Advisers

YOUR MEETING WITH MARTIN LEE: 19 JANUARY 1988

1. Mr Martin Lee, accompanied by Mr Daniel Fung of the Basic Law Consultative Committee and Mr Frank Ching of the Hong Kong

Observers, called on you at 3.15pm on 19 January, Mr Paul and I were

also present.

2.

(a)

Mr Lee made the following points:-

Direct elections: whether HMG/HKG had or had not made promises to introduce direct elections in 1988, the public perception in Hong Kong was that such promises had been made. He and his delegation

believed 1988 was crucial in order to achieve increases in the

numbers of directly elected members by 1997. Lee criticised the Grand Electoral College concept which was unacceptable and in essence an appointment system.

(b) First SAR Government: the concept of convergence was acceptable and understandable. But the Chinese were now saying that the first SAR Government would have to differ from its predecessor government. This made a nonsense of the concept of convergence. The Chinese invoked sovereignty on this issue, but for them it was really a question of control. They had said that they could not

trust the British. They wanted to change up to 30 Legislative Councillors in the first SAR government. They would retain those

who were "suitable". Developing on his earlier reference to the Grand Electoral College, Lee said that the Chinese concept of how it

CONFIDENTIAL