SECRET
031326
MDHOAN 6879
A GEOGRAPHICAL OR FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY BUT NOT CAS AT PRESENT) IN BOTH. BUT THIS WOULD BE OPPOSED BY AT LEAST SOME OF THE LIBERALS. THE GOVERNOR CONCLUDES THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THIS CHANGE TO BE PUT FORWARD DURING LEGCO DISCUSSION.
10. THE GOVERNOR SHOULD ALSO CONTINUE TO WELCOME ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS FROM LEGCO MEMBERS, AND TO MAKE CLEAR THAT HE AND WE WILL ACCEPT LEGCO'S FINAL DECISIONS. ONE WAY OF DEMONSTRATING THIS WOULD BE FOR THE GOVERNOR TO PUT TO LEGCO A COMPENDIUM OF ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD BY OTHERS, SEPARATELY FROM HIS OWN DRAFT LEGISLATION. SEVERAL LEGCO MEMBERS ARE ALREADY WORKING ON PROPOSALS WHICH MIGHT BE CAPABLE OF OCCUPYING THE MIDDLE GROUND. SUCH PROPOSALS ARE LIKELY TO CONCENTRATE ON SMALLER FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES (IF THE ONE MAN, ONE VOTE PRINCIPLE WERE ADOPTED, THE SIZE OF THE FRANCHISE WOULD BECOME LESS CRITICAL) AND A COMPOSITION FOR THE ELECTION COMMITTEE CLOSER TO THAT SET OUT IN THE BASIC LAW FOR THE 1999 ELECTIONS.
HURD
YYYY
MAIN
24
HKD
FED
PS
PS/MR GOODLAD
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
24
PS/PUS
SIR J COLES MR HUM
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