Governor from a wide range of different backgrounds and 3 officials. The next Legislative Council due in 1995 will be all-elected, with no appointed or official members.

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The Governor's Constitutional Proposals

12. The Governor announced a package of constitutional

proposals to the Hong Kong Legislative Council on 7 October

1992, including proposals for the 1994/5 election

arrangements. They represented his best judgement as to how to meet growing demand in Hong Kong for more democracy while remaining within the terms of the 1984 Joint Declaration and

the Basic Law, China's constitution for Hong Kong post-1997.

13. Mr Patten's electoral proposals include:

voting age to be reduced from 21 to 18;

voting system in geographical constituencies to be single seat, single vote;

creation of Independent Boundary Election Commission; franchise of functional constituencies to be greatly

extended

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Election Committee (which will elect 10 Legislative Council members) to be composed of people who have themselves been

elected.

14. The Chinese reacted with hostility, mounting a virulent propaganda campaign against the Governor personally and putting pressure on businessmen and Legislative Council

members. They insisted the Governor should withdraw his proposals, and refused to discuss them or to suggest any alternatives. There was some let-up in the New Year, but China has continued to maintain that the proposed changes contravene the Joint Declaration, the Basic Law, and agreements reached between us in Jan/Feb 1990. We do not

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