TNAG-1851-FCO40-2626-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 89

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FROM: R M Marsden

Hong Kong Department

DATE: 4 July 1989

cc: PS/Lord Glenarthur

Mr Gillmore

Mr McLaren

PRU

News Department

Mr Walker, Research Dept

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Private Secretary

FAC REPORT ON HONG KONG: LABOUR'S APPROACH TO DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG

1. You asked if we would find any material from Hansard on Labour's approach to democracy in Hong Kong.

2.

I attach the following extracts from Hansard:

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AUAE EU I

B

(a) Mr Ennals

C

(b) Mr Ennals

D

(c) Mr Healey

(d)

Mr Healey

(e) Mr Kaufman

G

(£) Mr Kaufman

H

(g) Mr Kaufman

18 December 1974

29 January 1975

16 May

1984

5 December 1984

20 January 1988

10 February 1988

15 July

1988

3.

These extracts show that when Labour were in government they clearly recognised the contraints on constitutional progress in Hong Kong. More recent extracts indicate that, even in 1984, Labour spokesmen were emphasising the importance of gradual progress towards more representative government in order not to threaten Hong Kong's stability and prosperity. By 1988, however, Labour spokesmen were pressing for the introduction of direct elections to LegCo to be brought forward from 1991 to 1988 and for the proportion of directly elected members to be increased from 18% to 25%.

Rosaline Harde

R M Marsden