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8.
We have emphasised throughout that the Governor put forward proposals, not decisions. In the period since 7 October, the Governor has encouraged people in Hong Kong, as well as the Chinese Government, to give their views on his
proposals and to make any suggestions of their own. A number of bodies and individuals in Hong Kong have put forward alternative proposals. We welcome that, and have published the proposals in a compendium with a supplement. A copy has been given to the Chinese side.
9. You have levelled criticisms against various elements of the Governor's package. These criticism have been strong.
We
do not regard them as justified. But what the Chinese side have not made clear is what specific alternative arrangements they might like to see which in their view would be compatible with the Basic Law. To give two examples:
The Chinese side have argued that the 9 new functional constituencies should follow the model of existing functional constituencies. But they have made no
specific proposals on what the 9 should be.
this week to hear specific proposals.
We hope
The Chinese side have said that the Election Committee
for 1995 should be modelled on the one set out in
Annex I of the Basic Law. That Committee is to be
composed of four sectors. We would like to hear how
specifically the Chinese side propose that these four
sectors should be constituted. We assume that the Chinese side accept that all members of the Election
Committee should be elected since the Basic Law
specifies that it will be constituted on the basis of
democracy and openness.
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