SECRET
FM PEKING
TO DESKBY 25073OZ FCO
TELNO 730
OF 2507023Z MAY 93
SECRET
HKB 011/7 RECEIVED INT
GISTRY
20 MAY 1995
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY Action Taken
Pr. Kructions
pr
102770
MDHIAN 2062
25
AND TO DESKBY 25073OZ HONG KƠNG
INFO IMMEDIATE UKREP JLG HONG KONG
HONG KONG TELNO 836: TALKS WITH THE CHINESE: BOUNDARY AND ELECTION
COMMISSION (BEC) BILL
1 I PROPOSE TO ASK COUNSELLOR TO TAKE ACTION WITH ZHAO JIHUA TOMORROW (26 MAY) AFTERNOON. I AM CONTENT WITH THE LINE PROPOSED IN PARA 2 OF TUR. THE KEY POINT IS IN THE THIRD TIRET, WHICH SHOULD PROVIDE SOME REASSURANCE. BUT THE CHINESE MAY ASK WHY, IN THAT CASE THE BEC PROVIDES FOR AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS. IF THEY DO, THE BEST RESPONSE, IF THE GOVERNOR AGREES, MIGHT BE TO SAY THAT IT IS TRUE THAT THE BILL MAKES THIS PROVISION, BUT THE ABOLITION OF APPOINTED SEATS WOULD REQUIRE SEPARATE
LEGISLATURE.
2. THE LEGAL POINT IN PARA 3 OF TUR IF CONFIRMED, MAY BE HELPFUL, BUT WE WOULD NEED TO BE CAREFUL TO DEPLOY IT IN A WAY WHICH DOES NOT SET HARES RUNNING ABOUT LACK OF EXECUTIVE-LED GOVERNMENT ETC, RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT HANDLING OF FUTURE ELECTORAL LEGISLATION, OR PROVOKE THE CHINESE INTO POINTING OUT THAT (IN THEORY) THE GOVERNOR COULD ALWAYS WITHHOLD HIS ASSENT OR THE SECRETARY OF STATE DISALLOW
THE ORDINANCE AND ASKING US TO DO SO.
MCLAREN
YYYY
MAIN
65
.HK POLICY
HKD
PUSD
FED
LEGAL ADVISERS//MS BARRETT
DISTRIBUTION
72
NTCD
PLANNERS
RAD
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
PAGE
1
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