between the political system in Hong Kong before and after 1997. The draft of the Basic Law at that time provided for
only 15 directly-elected seats in 1997. Her Majesty's Government took up this matter in a series of tough discussions with the Chinese Government in late 1989 and early 1990. The British side stressed the importance of responding to the clear desire in Hong Kong for a faster pace of democratic development by increasing the number of
directly-elected members of the Legislative Council beyond
that envisaged in the draft Basic Law. It was in this context
that a series of messages were exchanged between the two
Foreign Ministers in late 1989 and early 1990. These
exchanges were made public in October 1992.
22.
The Chinese side eventually agreed to increase to 20 the
the number of directly-elected seats prescribed in the Basic Law for the first legislature of the Hong Kong SAR. This was reflected in the final version of the Basic Law published in April 1990. The Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary confirmed
to the House in February 1990 that the Legislative Council
would therefore have 18 directly-elected seats in 1991 and at
least 20 in 1995. He also said that Her Majesty's Government would continue to press the case for a faster pace of
democratisation.
23.
The first direct elections, for these 18 seats in the
Legislative Council, were therefore held in September 1991.
All 18 seats were contested. The turn-out rate was 39% of the
registered electorate of 1.9 million, higher than for any previous elections in Hong Kong. The United Democrats of Hong
Kong and other liberals, who had campaigned hard for more
democracy, won 16 of the 18 seats and over 58% of the vote, a
clear expression of the community's interest in greater
democracy.
c) The Governor's proposals, October 1992
statememt26.8/BRIEFS/NJH
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