TNAG-1840-FCO40-2615-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 133

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

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Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Unclassified

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

DSR 11C (Revised 5/87)

introduction of an elected element into the Urban Council

(the statutory council with responsibilities for the

provision of municipal services to inhabitants of the

ma in urban areas of Hong Kong). In 1982 District Boards

were established on a territory-wide base to serve as a

forum for public consultation and participation in

administration at the district level. In 1986 the

Regional Council was established as the statutory

authority with responsibility for the area outside the

jurisdiction of the Urban Council. Elections to the

Urban Council (since 1981), Regional Council and District

Boards now take place on a geographical constituency

basis, with a broad franchise embracing all residents who

are 21 years of age or over and have lived in Hong Kong

for 7 years or more.

30.

The development of a more representative form of

government at the central level also began in the 1970s,

with the expansion of the Legislative Council to include

more members who are not officials. But at the time of

the signing of the Joint Declaration, there were no

elected members of the Legislative Council: all were

appointed. Following public consultation on the basis of

a Green Paper published in July 1984, the Hong Kong

Government announced in their White Paper of November

1984 that an indirectly elected element would be

introduced into the Legislative Council in the elections

of 1985. Twelve members were duly elected from

'functional' constituencies based on major professional

and occupational groups; twelve others were elected on a