SECRET
SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TELNO 898
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
DESK OFFICER
HKB 012 16
RECEIVED IN 57
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19 MAR 1990
COT
INDEX
RA
OF 13121OZ MARCH 90
ST
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
126
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055735 MDHIAN 0950
YOUR TELNO 536: CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE: 1991 LEGCO
1. EXCO TODAY (13 MARCH) GAVE FINAL APPROVAL TO DECISIONS TAKEN AT RECENT MEETINGS ON THE COMPOSITION OF LEGCO AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1991 ELECTIONS. WE SHALL TOMORROW BRIEF THE NCNA ON THESE PROPOSALS. UKREP JLG WILL BRIEF THEIR JLG COUNTERPARTS IN PARALLEL.
2. THERE REMAINS ONE OUTSTANDING POINT ON WHICH EXCO COULD NOT REACH A FINAL VIEW TODAY. THIS IS THE COMPOSITION OF THE PROPOSED TOURISM FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY, WHERE IT IS NOT YET CLEAR THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO AGREE ON A CLEARLY DEFINED CONSTITUENCY. MEMBERS WILL TAKE A FINAL LOOK AT THIS NEXT TUESDAY. IF THIS REMAINS UNSETTLED THEN WE SHALL HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN THE ALTERNATIVES OF EITHER A 59 SEAT LEGCO FOR 1991 OR A 60 SEAT LEGCO INCLUDING ONLY 20 FUNCTIONALS AND 18 (RATHER THAN 17) APPOINTED MEMBERS. BRIEFING OF THE CHINESE WILL COVER THIS POINT.
3. THE ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE 1991 ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE TO LEGCO ON 21 MARCH.
4. AS BACKGROUND YOU MAY WISH TO KNOW THAT WE CONSIDERED WHETHER TO LOWER THE VOTING AGE TO 18 BUT DECIDED TO STAY 21 AS IN THE 1988 WHITE PAPER WITH A VIEW TO LOWERING TO 18 IN 1995.
WILSON
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