SECRET
DRAFT STATEMENT TO LEGCO
(in the event of no substantive
PRC response on talks)
NO TALKS
Draft : 4.3.93 Time : 11.00 hrs
12
I have an announcement to make this afternoon to fulfil
my promise to Honourable Members to keep them informed of progress on constitutional development issues. Honourable Members will have heard a number of statements made by senior
Chinese officials in the last few days and I think it is encumbent 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 In announcing last week that the Bill embodying those arrangements would not be published on 26 February, the Government promised to set out the reasons for the delay.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 of 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 side that the Bill was ready for
6 February.
explained to the
Chinese
gazetting.
SECRET