TNAG-1852-FCO40-2627-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 73

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

Top Secret

Secret

Confidential

Restricted

Unclassified

PRIVACY MARKING

In Confidence

DSR 11C (Revised 5/87) biggest infrastructure project ever undertaken in Hong Kong costing £10bn, over the next fifteen years or so.

10. The Government have taken careful note of the

Committee's recommendations on the development of democracy in Hong Kong. (paragraphs 3.10, 3.11 and 3.14). This is an issue which is the subject of intense

debate in the territory, particularly in the context of the drafting of the Basic Law. We have already stressed the importance of a Basic Law which reflectes the wishes

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

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, in a way which takes full account of Hong Kong opinion, and to try to ensure that the system we establish 1997 is

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 canvas views on electoral law (paragraph 3.12). Laws governing direct elections to district boards and municipal councils

already exist. There might be a need fo 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.

zolic

12. The Government are grateful for the Committee's detailed recommendations about the Chief Executive and

the role of LegCo (paragraphs 3.18 to 3.22).

These are

questions to be decided in the context of the drafting of