HONG KONG: DEMOCRACY
(Defensive)
- The Hong Kong Government are currently reviewing arrangements for the 1995 Legislative Council elections. shall be discussing these with the Chinese in due course.
Pace of democratisation too slow, why not bring in full direct elections now?
We
Present arrangements provide for steady progress towards eventual full direct elections, in line with the Basic Law.
- We want to establish a democratic system which can be sustained amid general agreement up to 1997 and will survive thereafter.
Changes introduced now in the teeth of Chinese opposition would be unlikely to survive and would create a climate of uncertainty.
- We intend to discuss these matters with the Chinese before the 1995 elections. We have made it clear that we would like to see a faster pace of democratisation.
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