constituencies, even though the Chinese side still maintained their refusal to discuss objective criteria for the through train. The details of the revised proposals are set out in Part III of this White Paper. Part III also explains why the
Chinese proposals on these issues were unacceptable. During these Rounds, the Chinese side also set out their position on
three other issues:
statememt26.8/BRIEFS/NJH
On the through train, they indicated that the British
side would have to ensure that the 1995 election
arrangements conformed fully with the Chinese side's
interpretation of the Basic Law before criteria for the
through train could be discussed. The British side
made clear that, given the fundamental importance of
criteria for the through train, discussion of this must proceed in parallel with that of other issues.
On the stipulation in the Basic Law that no more than
20% of the legislature in 1997 may hold foreign
nationality or right of abode, it would be for the
British side to devise a mechanism to ensure that the
Legislative Council elected in 1995 conformed to this
requirement. The British side responded that it would
not be appropriate to discriminate in this way against
British and other nationals in elections held under
British administration in 1995. In any case, the nationality status of individual legislators could
change between 1995 and 1997.
On the voting method in geographical constituencies,
the nine constituencies used in the 1991 elections
should remain unchanged. (In 1991, each constituency
returned two members; each voter had two votes).
1995, the Chinese side proposed the "multi-seat,
single-vote" system, whereby the 20 directly-elected
For
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