TNAG-2713-FCO40-3919-Parliamentary-relations-draft-White-Paper-on-Representative--1993 — Page 35

PART I: THE DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN

HONG KONG

a) Developments to 1984

1. The unique circumstances of Hong Kong have determined the

development of its representative institutions. The policy of Her Majesty's Government in the case of most other Dependent Territories has been to promote the development of democracy in

preparation for eventual independence. But independence was

never a realistic option for Hong Kong. Attitudes in the

community reflected this reality. When relatively modest

proposals to develop democracy were made by the then Governor in the period following the Second World War, they met with virtually no public support in Hong Kong. The territory's population had increased sharply, from about 600,000 in 1945 to 2.2 million by mid-1950. Most of these were migrants from China, whose priorities were to make a decent living for

themselves and their families. In these early post-war years there was widespread concern that political activity would have

led to the civil war in China between the Nationalists and the

Communists spilling over into Hong Kong.

2.

Some constitutional development was again considered in

the mid-1960s. But the Cultural Revolution in China caused

disruption and uncertainty in Hong Kong. Many in the community feared that elections would lead to open rivalry between the Communists and Nationalists which would have put at risk the

stability of Hong Kong, (there had been nationalist-inspired

riots in Hong Kong in 1954, and communist-inspired riots in the 1960s). Local attitudes were also influenced by the knowledge

that China was opposed to the introduction into Hong Kong of party politics and elections on western lines. There was no wish to provoke China into challenging the status quo in pursuit of her standing claim to sovereignty over Hong Kong.

statement26.8/BRIEFS/NJH

6

--