TNAG-1749-FCO40-2468-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1988 — Page 28

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

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8

The Joint Liaison Group has not

shadow government.

interfered in the administration of Hong

Kong, nor will it do so. It is not a

It is a means of

consultation and cooperation in the

interests of Hong Kong and its people.

- So where does that important matter

stand today? The Hong Kong Government,

and HMG, have responded, and are responding to the widely expressed

desire in Hong Kong for more

participation in government.

9

A

I think the area where most controversy

M

has arisen is that of constitutional

reform. That is not surprising: there

are deeply and sincerely held views on

this subject in this community as in any

other and they differ. The clash of

such views in debate is bound to produce

friction, and some heat. Anyone who has

spent any time in parliament at

Westminster can tell you that.

It is only 3 years since the first

elected seats of any kind were

And only 3 years introduced in Legco.

from now, in 1991, ten directly elected

That is not a seats will be introduced.

long interval. But it is, I believe, a reasonable response to the widespread wish for evolution to be steady and

gradual. Further changes will be

/necessary

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