35-MAR-1993 15:36
HK GOVERNMENT HOUSE
852 521 1868
P.03
(21)
STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN
AKB 012/3
TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG, HKB
5 MARCH 1993
RECEIVED IM PEGISTRY
15 MAR 1993
INDLA
PA
REGISTRY
my promise
I have an announcement to make this afternoon to fulfil to Honourable Members to keep them informed of
Honourable
progress on constitutional development issues. Members will have heard a number of statements made by senior Chinese officials in
in the last few days and I think it is incumbent on me to set out the position as we see it.
2.
As Honourable Members will know, diplomatic contacts have taken place in recent weeks in Peking. Our aim has been to explore whether a firm and productive basis could be found for the two sides to enter formal talks on the arrangements for the 1994/95 elections. In announcing last week that
week that the Bill
embodying those arrangements would not be published on 26 February, the Government promised to set out the reasons for the delay. I would like to explain to Honourable Members this afternoon where we now stand.
3.
Since my policy Address last October, we have made clear that we are ready to talk at any time and without pre-conditions in an effort to reach an understanding with the Chinese side on these electoral arrangements. This Council is already examining the Boundaries and Election Commission Bill. ExCo endorsed on 2 February draft legislation embodying the remainder of the constitutional proposals I made on 7 October. So there is no mystery about what that draft legislation contains. We passed a copy of it to the Chinese side on At the same time we repeated formally our willingness to talk at any time without pre-conditions; and
6 February.
Chinese
explained to the Chinese
side that the Bill was ready for
gazetting.