previous discussions between Britain and China, including the negotiations on the Joint Declaration and in the Joint Liaison
Group.
31. The Hong Kong Government introduced into the Legislative Council in February a Bill covering one aspect of the
Governor's proposals: the establishment of a Boundaries and Election Commission (this was passed into law in July 1993). Hong Kong's Executive Council endorsed in early February draft
legislation embodying the remainder of the Governor's
proposals. Despite strong pressure from the community in Hong
Kong for the draft legislation to be published, the Hong Kong Government held back publication for five weeks to give the
contacts between the British and Chinese sides the maximum
chance of success. But at the end of that time it had still
not been possible to agree on an acceptable basis for the
talks, or that they should start at an early date. The draft
legislation was therefore published on 12 March. But it was
not introduced into the Legislative Council. On the basis of
a further initiative from the British side, contacts resumed
between the British and Chinese Governments on the holding of
talks. Agreement was announced on 13 April that the talks
would be held on the basis of the Joint Declaration, the
principle of convergence with the Basic Law and the agreements and understandings previously reached.
32.
The objective of Her Majesty's Government and the Hong
Kong Government in the talks was to establish whether an
understanding could be reached with the Chinese side on a set
of electoral arrangements which they could commend to the
Legislative Council in Hong Kong. These would need to
provide:
statememt26.8/BRIEFS/NJH
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