b) First phase of talks: April- May 1993 (Rounds 1-3)
23. The British side() explained that the talks would need to be completed in good time so that orderly arrangements could be
made to hold the elections in Hong Kong in 1994 and 1995;
explained the Governor's proposals; noted that the Chinese side had criticised them but had not put forward ideas of their own;
and sought specific Chinese proposals so that the talks could move rapidly to discussion of practical electoral arrangements; and emphasised the importance of acceptable objective criteria to
ensure a through train for the Legislative Council.
24. The British side also sought assurances from the Chinese side on three further points:
Consultation on the Hong Kong membership of the Preparatory Committee. Under the Basic Law, this
Committee will be established in 1996 and will
prescribe the specific method for forming the first
government and the first Legislative Council of the
SAR. Fifty percent of its membership will come from
Hong Kong. The British side proposed that there
should be consultation between the two sides about the
Hong Kong membership in the same way as there was consultation about the membership of the Airport
Consultative Committee.
(iii)
The term 'the British side' is used for convenience. At all stages the position put
forward by Sir Robin McLaren in the talks as British Representatives was agreed between Her
Majesty's Government and the Governor, acting on the advice of his Executive Council.
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