TNAG-1845-FCO40-2620-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 108

1989-03-23 13:47

G.L.S

33 P.20

Governor:

IF

by

which rules in

the

the

We were to have 3. 3ystem legislature can go on as its provided for under cerfain draft of the Basic Law, then ves. we would have to mirror-image what's laid down in the Basic Law for it, that 3 certain percentage of direct elections and the rest of ic indirect elections through functional constituencies.

0:

Kong

Hong

System

Could the Governor explain to us why in a mistrust of direct elections and why the there is such of indirect eléctions has been promoted by the British administration. and now of course to be perpetuated beyond 1997?

see

30 much

in which

history

29

been a crucial

that

to

have Communist

if Governor :

of the attitudes of this. Some

I don't know distrust but certainly there are differing views in Hong Kong. some of this J023 back to what I was saying earlier about the way things have evolved in Hong Kong, and the particular environment

oneself

by Hong Kong where survival and pulling on

many one's boots straps bag been the key things for people for many.

cent of the vears. And it's only been quite recently that 50 DAT

rather population of Hong Kong have actually been born in Hong Kong.

So for than having moved into as a result of turmoil elsewhere. large number of people in Hong Kong, stability has element. There's also been a historical factor at play in people in Hong Kong came from China where they had seen and moved away

results of Chinese civil war.

anxiety from

amongst the

and a creat

war conditions many

in people

Chose civil Hong Kong not

in other words. in repeated

Hong Kong in political terms.

the by Communist Party or supported groups. either the

The Party. fighting against groups either of the KMT or supported by KMT That

whole has

the been an element until faw

→

ago. Years environment has been changing recently.

it remains true that there are very divided views in Hong Kong on this issue. and if I might just which Was go back to the question of the 87 Green Paper and review

that very clearly referred to a moment ago.. what did come out of

a desire to' indeed was that for most people in Hong Kong there was move towards an element of direct elections. There was

very clear So that before 1997. but there was 2 those who wanted to make that first move in 1988 and those who

for it. was And паке that First

later than 1983. move

of combination of reasons. or responding to those combination

first that The Hong Kong Government took the decision that the should come in 1991.

TO

a clear desire division between

wanted

chose views

Step

0:

and

The people of Hong Kong if they had

they suffrage or is it the fact that they don't want it. If

is would strengthen confidence. is there any reason shouldn't have it over the next five years

universal

want i= why they

*

Governor:

This in a way but not put quite 30 starkly, was

19