DEMOCRACY IN HONG KONG
IF YOU ARE SO KEEN ON DEMOCRACY FOR PEOPLE IN THE SOVIET
UNION WHY NOT FOR PEOPLE IN HONG KONG?
- No comparison in the degree of personal freedom enjoyed by
the two peoples. That must be apparent to everyone.
But they are not the only
Elections are very important.
criterion of freedom. An independent judiciary, freedom of movement, freedom of speech, freedom from arbitrary arrest -
all these are important too.
-
LegCo elections due next week will be a big step forward for Hong Kong; for the first time just under a third of the seats will be directly elected. And a majority of Council
members will be elected (rather than appointed).
WHY NOT BRING IN FULL DIRECT ELECTIONS BEFORE 1997?
- Not sensible to press the issue now, just before the
elections. Better to give the new LegCo time to settle in.
- Aim to establish a system which will survive and develop
after 1997. Present arrangements provide for steady
progress towards eventual full direct elections, in line
with the Basic Law.
If pressed
- It remains our policy to try to persuade the Chinese to
accept a faster pace of democratisation in line with Hong Kong opinion.
OAKAFE/1
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