The Hon. Mrs Elsie Tu
55 Kung Lok Road
Kwun Tong
Kowloon
Thank you for your letter of 3 October to Douglas Hurd,
which I saw only on my return to London from Hong
Kong.
You will not be surprised to hear that I cannot agree with many of the points in your letter. We have different views, for example, on the degree of support among the people of Hong Kong for the Governor's modest electoral proposals. During my visit, when I listened as I always do to people from many walks of life, I found widespread support for the Governor's policy. But the key point here is not whether we think you are right; it is that we have no intention of forcing any proposal on the people of Hong Kong. We and the Governor have said all along that it will be for LegCo to take the decisions on what electoral legislation to pass. I cannot therefore understand what you mean when you say that we are prepared to sacrifice the peace of Hong Kong. The British government is not seeking to impose anything on Hong Kong; we have always said that we will support LegCo's decision.
You mention the talks with China on electoral arrangements.
We are working for a successful outcome. That would be the
best way to ensure a smooth transition, to which we attach
high priority. You imply doubts as to whether we are right to take the view that agreed criteria for the through train are an essential part of any agreement. Yet there would be no point in agreeing detailed electoral arrangements for 1994/95 with the Chinese side if the candidates and electors had no certainty about the criteria which would be applied to