TAN 19 '88 12:31 HKGO LONDON FAX:01 493-1964
P.1
Attention : For Mr R. Footman
HK Department WH312
Deek by 191300
Lofax 50 of 18 January 1988
HONG KONG - THE LABOUR VIEN
LA
The Labour Party front bench will be arguing that the time has come, for direct elections for the Hong Kong Legislative Council when the House of Commons debates Hong Kong on Wednesday, January 20th,
This is the result of the visit to Hong Kong loet week by Foreign Affairs Spokesman George Foulkes.
1
"Before my visit I was not convinced that there
that there was you a Leol upsurge of grassroots opinion in favour of direct elections this year. However, having opoken to such a wide range of people and studied the media debate,
have roommandød that the Labour Party should push the case on behalf of the 53% of Hong Kong people that opinion polls now show 16 backing an element of direct elections this September.
1
:
+
"We fully understand the misgivings of the People's Republic of China about moving too rapidly in advance of the promulgation of the Basic Law, but I am now convinced that the price of denying direct elections will be a severe crisis of confidence among Hong
Their confidence in Britain, in
in their own Kong people, government, and most importantly in the future will be 'severely undermined if there is no firm commitment to direct elections in either the Foreign Secretary's speech or the HK government White Paper in February.
11
For further information please ring George. Foulkes ext 3474 oz 'ox Chris Greene (research asst to George Foulkes, who accompanied George Toulkes to Hong Kong) ext 6492.
END
January 18, 1908
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.