TNAG-1900-FCO40-2699-Future-of-Hong-Kong-briefing-1989 — Page 98

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

JKU40

4.1.3

33 F.63

Lee/Rowlands

MR MARTIN LEE: There is absolutely no fear of that.

19

Even if

we do nothing, this "Cha Cha proposal, which I call it will

be changed, because I have been told by Chinese drafters that

But, the end product will be a slight

it will be changed.

improvement, but it is far, far away from the sort of genuine

democracy that we think would enable the people of Hong Kong

to administer Hong Kong with a high degree of autonomy.

MR EDWARD ROWLANDS: what at least can you tell us ?

What

ate

at least these minimal changes that you understand the

Chinese authorities are willing to offer?

MR MARTIN LEE: Yes, at the moment it is only at the 14th

year, or thereabouts that there will be a referendum and it

is subject to all sorts of restrictions which make it

impossible to materialize.

Now, I think they are bound to

bring forward that date, where the people would have a chance

to decide whether they go for more democracy or not - that

date will be advanced by five years, or maybe even slightly

more but to me, the whole rationale of democracy for Hong

Kong and that is the corner stone of the policy of one

country two systems, is that is if we are to exercise a high

degree of autonomy in order to separate our system from the

one across the border, we need something to assure ourselves

that our leaders will rule Hong Kong in the interests of the

people of Hong Kong and not in the interests of China

that is what democracy is all about.

and

7.63

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