12.
The direct elections for these 18 seats in the September
1991 Legislative Council elections marked an important step forward in the development of democracy in Hong Kong. There was a
turn-out rate of 39% of registered voters and all 18 seats were contested. The United Democrats of Hong Kong (UDHK), led by
Mr Martin Lee, and their other liberal allies, fought a lively and successful campaign based on a call for more democracy. The UDHK
won 12 of the 18 seats and 45% of the vote. Four of the other
remaining seats went to other liberal candidates. Most of the
successful candidates in the indirect, functional constituency,
elections (21 seats) were without party political affiliation. The remaining 21 members of the present Legislative Council consist of 18 appointed by the Governor from a variety of
backgrounds and 3 officials, who are ex-officio members.
13.
The Committee proposed that full democracy should be
introduced before 1997 but that this should be done in a way that
was consistent with maintaining a necessary degree of continuity
(3.10). The Government's aim has been to establish a system which
would respond to Hong Kong people's desire for more democracy, but
which would also be capable of enduring and developing beyond
1997. We have therefore sought to discuss the electoral arrangements in Hong Kong with the Chinese Government.
14.
The simplest way to extend democracy in Hong Kong would be
for the Chinese authorities to agree to increase the number of
directly-elected seats in the Legislative Council laid down in the
Basic Law. We have put this to the Chinese side, most recently
when the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary met the Chinese
Foreign Minister in New York in September 1992. But, as noted above, the Chinese position remains that the Basic Law cannot be
changed.
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