TNAG-1852-FCO40-2627-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 43

biggest infrastructure project ever undertaken in Hong

Kong, costing f10bn over the next fifteen years or so.

x

10. The Government have taken careful note of the

Committee's recommendations on the development of

democracy in Hong Kong.

There i

(paragraphs 3.10, 3.11 and

3.14). This is, an issue which is the subject of intense

on tui subiri

debate in the territory

Lin

part

rticularly in the context of

the drafting of the Basic Law. We have already stressed

the importance of a Basic Law which reflectes the wishes

of the community as a whole in Hong Kong. As far as the

decisions which the Government must take about the

elections in 1991 and 1995 are concerned, our guiding

principles will be to proceed, as the Committee suggest,

account of Hongkong

which takes full aceng opinion,

before

in a way wh

and to try to ensure that the system we establish/1997 is

which Iwe

stablishi

durable and able to serve Hong Kong well in the years

thereafter.

11. The Government have noted the Committee's

recommendation for a Green Paper to canvass views on electoral law (paragraph 3.12). Laws governing direct

elections to district boards and municipal councils

already exist.

There might be a need for public

consultation on new legislation to be introduced before

the 1991 direct elections to the Legislative Council.

The form of any such consultation will be decided in due

course.

12.

The Government are grateful for the Committee's

of the future Special Administrative Region detailed recommendations about the Chief ExecutiveLand

ions the legislature

the role of Legeo (paragraphs 3.18 to 3.22). These are

questions to be decided in the context of the drafting of