TNAG-1839-FCO40-2614-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 96

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

Stress that all that has been agreed has been strictly within

terms of Joint Declaration.

part to achieve that

-

Has often taken hard regotiation

now

Also in accordance with Joint Declaration, Chinese have embarked on drafting of Basic Law (dealt with in detail in separate

section).

Why not starting sooner

•Swine when? Why nor starts hom

Why to show!

8. Development of representative government in Hong Kong

На?

Why Slow:

HMG's firm view that a well established system of representative government is an essential component in the arrangements for Hong Kong's future.

System of representative government is a relatively new development. What has been achieved would have been unthinkable only a few years ago. Reasons why it was only in early 1980s tht people in Hong Kong began to think seriously about representative

government.

to

on

1982 saw the first district elections to District Boards,

based

a broad franchise. 1983 saw expansion of Urban Council to 30 members, half of whom were elected from district constituencies on same broad franchise as District Boards.

-

Following public consultation in 1984, indirect elections to LegCo introduced in 1985.

There is a body of opinion in Hong Kong which claims that we promised in the 1984 White Paper that direct elections would be introduced in 1988. No such promises were made. Our only commitment was to review the position again in 1987. Comprehensive review of public opinion took place as promised in 1987.

Review generated considerable public interest: a healthy sign.

Sounding of public

Survey Office's work was fair and objective. opinion took many forms. Not based on isolated polls or surveys. Care taken to obtain representative overall picture. most people wanted a directly elected element in legislature, but

Conclusions:

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