ERMENT HOUSE HONG KONG.

WED 03 MAR 93 07:28

SECRET

Draft Statement by the Governor

to the Legislative Council

PG.16

PALES

Буревателнией

annonpered of talks.

1.

afternoon.

I

have ༣

significant

announcement

to

make this

I felt it right to make it first to Honourable

Members of this Council.

2.

The Chinese and British sides have agreed that the Government representatives of the two countries will, starting from (date), hold talks in Peking on the arrangements for 1994/95 elections in Hong Kong, in accordance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the principle of convergence with the Basic Law and the relevant understandings and agreements reached between China and Britain/ [the exchange of correspondence between the two

Foreign Ministers.] I have consistently made clear that I

consider my proposals to be entirely compatible with these.

X

3.

The British side in the talks will

British Ambassador to China, Sir Robin McLaren.

be led by the

The delegation

will also include the Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Michael Sze, the Political Adviser, William Ehrman, the Deputy Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Peter Lai, as well as Peter Ricketts, Head of the Hong Kong Department in the Foreign and

Commonwealth office.

4.

Before introducing the remaining draft legislation on

the 1994/95 electoral arrangements into the Legislative Council,

which will have to enact the final legislation, I have decided,

on the advice of the Executive Council, to see whether talks can

SECRET

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