TNAG-1753-FCO40-2473-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1988 — Page 21

1

CORDS

FROM

THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

House of Lords Westminster

7.

The Basic Law at present provides for 25% of the Council

to be directly elected and this is an encouraging step forward.

But I am sure the Chinese Government know that they have

nothing to fear from a further increase which would give

as it would more people a stake and an involvement in the

future of Hong Kong. A comparatively small concession

would go a long way.

This debate is no more at this stage than an interim

}

look at the developing scene but I believe it to be

essential that the people of Hong Kong should know that the

British Government, all onnosition parties and the two Houses of

Parliament are taking a lively interest in their problems and

their views at this crucial time in their history.

We hope to have further debates as the situation demands.

I BEG 10 MOVE.