CONFIDENTIAL
Recent agreements in the JLG concern Hong Kong's
extradition arrangements, Investment Promotion and
Protection Agreements with foreign countries and
multilateral treaties concerning health, conservation and
trade. Areas being dealt with currently include Mutual
Legal Assistance and the localisation of UK enactments
applied to Hong Kong. JLG XXII was held in Hong Kong from 24-26 March. Precious little progress was made. We remain deadlocked on two key issues: how much of the land currently
occupied by British Forces should be handed over to the PLA
post-1997; and Air Services Agreements, where we are in the process of separating off Hong Kong's ASAs from the UK's.
Democracy
The first direct elections to the Legislative Council took
place on 15 September 1991 (18 seats out of 60 were
directly elected). Other changes included an increase in
the number of functional constituency seats from 14 to 21;
a reduction in the number of official members from 10 to 3;
a reduction in the number of appointed members from 27 to
18; and the appointment of a Deputy President, who will
preside over most council sessions instead of the Governor.
- We are committed to going back to the Chinese to press for
an increase in the number of directly-elected seats in 1997.
This is currently 20, as stipulated in the Basic Law (BL).
Certain sectors in Hong Kong (and here) think it should be
much higher. The Chinese have made clear that the BL
cannot be changed.
New Governor
- Lord Wilson of Tillyorn has served as Governor of
Hong Kong for the past 5 years. He has done, and continues
to do, an excellent job. He has the Goverment's full
confidence, as the honour awarded to him demonstrates.
was never the intention that he should serve until 1997.
It
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CONFIDENTIAL