DRAFT WHITE PAPER:
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG
PERSONAL INTRODUCTION FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE
We intend to fulfil our responsibilities towards Hong Kong in the remaining years of British sovereignty. This is our plain
duty. We are responsible for holding elections in Hong Kong
in 1994 and 1995. The Joint Declaration lays down that the
legislature of Hong Kong in July 1997 "shall be constituted by
elections". Elections have to be fair and open if the
territory is to have a credible Legislative Council, capable of defending Hong Kong's way of life as set out in the Joint
Declaration, and the rule of law on which it depends.
We wished to hold these elections on a basis agreed with the
Chinese Government, with the aim of ensuring continuity.
Despite a real and sustained effort on our part, agreement has
not yet proved possible. If the elections are to be held in an orderly way, it is necessary to start the legislative process in Hong Kong now on the most urgent issues. The Hong Kong Government are therefore introducing draft legislation on
arrangements for the District Board elections in September
1994, the Municipal Council elections in March 1995, and the
two most urgent issues relating to the Legislative Council
elections in September 1995: lowering the voting age to 18,
and establishing the single seat-single vote method for the
geographical elections. None of these is controversial in
Hong Kong. We are ready to continue discussions on the remaining issues and have made that clear to the Chinese side.
I regret that they have responded by breaking off the talks.
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This White Paper is intended to inform debate in Parliament,
in the Legislative Council and more widely - on what is at
stake. It gives a full account of what our talks with China
statement26.8/BRIEFS/NJH
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