SECRET
HONG KONG: DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE ON ELECTORAL
ARRANGEMENTS:
STEERING BRIEF
Introduction
1. These talks follow from our offer to discuss the
arrangements for the 1994 elections in Hong Kong with the Chinese side without preconditions. The offer was repeated most recently in the Foreign Secretary's message of 6 February to the Chinese Foreign Minister, Qian Qichen.
reply in effect accepted our proposal.
Objectives
2.
The discussions are likely to take place in several
phases. Our general objectives are:
Qian's
(i) To secure Chinese agreement to arrangements for the
1994 and 1995 elections which can then be put to the
Legislative Council (LegCo) in the form of draft
legislation.
(ii) If (i) proves impossible, to minimise the risk that the Chinese will actively oppose passage of electoral legislation or frustrate the holding of
elections in 1994/95.
(iii) To ensure that any amendments agreed to the
proposals set out in the Governor's speech of 7 October
1992 in pursuit of (i) or (ii) result in electoral
arrangements which are also open, fair and acceptable to
the people of Hong Kong: and stand a good chance of being adopted by LegCo.
(iv) That the talks should be concluded, whether or not
agreement with the Chinese can be reached, in time for
legislation to be introduced and enacted by the
steeringbrief 15.2
NH
SECRET
Page 45Page 46