47. The Governor's proposal in October 1992 was that the voting age should be reduced from 21 to 18 for all elections in Hong Kong.

48. The voting age is 18 in both the UK and the PRC, and this proposal was widely supported in Hong Kong.

49.

The Chinese side have made no specific proposal on this point but suggested in round nine that agreement on it has yet

to be reached.

ELIGIBILITY TO STAND FOR ELECTION

50. The Chinese side proposed that Hong Kong law should be changed to permit Hong Kong Deputies to the National People's

Congress and Hong Kong members of the China People's Political Consultative Committee to serve in the Legislative Council and District Organisations. But the prohibition on members of

other Parliaments and Councils should remain.

51. The British side noted this proposal.

DISTRICT BOARD AND MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS (1994/95)

52. The Governor proposed in October 1992 that all members of the District Boards and Municipal Councils should be

directly-elected (except for ex-officio members in the New

Territories).

53. Since their inception the District Boards and Municipal Councils have been moving away from a wholly appointed

membership towards an elected membership. The Governor's proposal is fully consistent with the principle of open and fair elections, and of the gradual development of Hong Kong's

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