your
*
>
proposai
3 not very
Foraian Ministry put to
different
substance
15 on 16 January.
-liantly aigner starting point in 1991, and
1997.
intward What you have proposed for 1999 to elieve спас these small changes would make all the Attference 2 terms of obtaining support in Hong Kong and
nsuring
the British ability to administer thc Territory cetween now and 1997 is not eroded.
لاب
that
you wished to provide for the establishment of
Grand electoral college in the Basic Law, and the
arrangements For constituting this body were open and fully
Cepresentative, We would wish to see it initiated in 1995
cnrouan consultations between our two sides. Those elected
the grand electoral college in that year Would
subsequently be able to become memberS of the first
Legislature
the SAR if they met the requirements for membership stipulated in
the 1995 Legislature
draft of the Basic
SAR Legislature.
the Basic Law. Other members of
would, as provided for in the second
Law, also become members of the first
I also consider it important, if the political structure provisions of the Basic Law are to Command support in Hong Kong, that the pattern of voting should be the one that Hong Kong is used to. What is needed is to ensure overall continuity in the Legislature.
9.
I very much hope
that we can reach agreement on this important question. It is one of great significance ensuring the political stability of Hong Kong. Doing would enable us to co-operate
for
SO
developing
a political structure
convergence and a smooth transition.
on
fully with you in
which would ensure
Agreement between us
these points would also open the way for me to visit
Beijing to hold
concern
and to
Sino-British
discussions with you on matters of mutual take forward the ideas for improving
relations which were set out in the Prime Minister's message to General Secretary Jiang Zemin.