2
finished and the outcome is not yet certain. We shall wish to study carefully the draft which emerges from this meeting. There are, however, indications that this draft will provide for 20 directly elected seats in 1997 and for further increases to 24 seats in 1999 and 30 seats in 2003. This rate of progress would not be as rapid as many people in Hong Kong, or we ourselves, would have liked to see. But it would be a considerable improvement on the position reached in December, and it would reflect a willingness by the Basic Law drafters to respond to the representations which we and others in Hong Kong have been making.
So we are following closely the recommendations which are emerging from the Plenary meeting on other issues of importance to Hong Kong. The key issues here are voting procedures., the composition and constitution of the Grand Electoral College which is to return a proportion of the members of the Legislature,, and restrictions on the nationality of members of the post-1997 Legislature.
If, as I hope, the Plenary meeting resolves these matters in a satisfactory way, and if the figures for the directly elected seats which I have mentioned are confirmed, we would regard that outcome one which, though not ideal, we could reasonably commend to the House, and to the people
the people of Hong Kong, as a basis for the future.
On that basis, and in the interests of the continuity which we believe is what most Hong Kong people want, the Hong Kong Government will make arrangements to introduce 18 directly elected seats in 1991. There would thus be a continuous upward slope of development towards democracy from 1991 to 2003, with the possibility that full Virect elections could be introduced in 2007..
of
19
As for 1995, which is when the last elections under British Administr tion are due to take place we plan to increase the number
C rectly elected seats to at Least 20
we then decide to introduce the electoral arrangements envisaged in the Basic Law, it will be possible for members elected in 1995 to carry on over the 19%7 barrier to 1999.
to
success. We
as
The who suggest that whatever we do now China would be obliged accept in 1997 are I think out of touch with reality The measures which we are introducing will preserve the concept of one country TWO systems, which is the Basis of Hong Kong's future shall continue to press the case for a faster pace of democratisation. Opinion in Hong Kong and policy in China on this matter have both moved a Long way since 1984, and there will be further evolution between now and 1997.
K
This will be a substantially greater first step towards democracy in Hong Kong than was planned two years ago That has been the first important requirement. This arrangement offers the prospect
of further such steps to be enshrined in the Basic Law, both in 1997 and thereafter. That is the second important requirement. I believe that taken together this arrangement makes good sense for Hong Kong.
ENDS VSU14/90