SECRET
6.
We all must hope it will be possible to reach an
understanding in these discussions on electoral arrangements that
are open, fair and acceptable to the people of Hong Kong. That
is our aim. There will, I can assure Honourable Members, be no
hidden agreements. Because at the end of the day, it will be for
you in this Council, representing the people of Hong Kong, who
will have the constitutional duty to enact legislation on the
electoral arrangements for 1994 and 1995. That fact will be
constantly in my mind and in the minds
delegation.
of members of our
7.
No one should imagine that these discussions are going
to be easy. They will not be. For our part, we will try
sincerely to achieve success in these talks, to bridge the
differences between both sides and to identify the common ground,
while remaining true to the undertakings we have given to you and
to the people of Hong Kong that the arrangements for the
elections should be fair, open, and acceptable to the community.
We have not travelled this far only to abandon those undertakings
now. But equally we would be doing less than our duty to the
community we serve if we did not enter these talks determined to
try to the best of our ability to bring them to a successful and
honourable conclusion. So we enter these discussions in a
positive spirit, while not underestimating the difficulties of
securing agreement on terms that could honourably be recommended
to the community whose best interests we seek to serve.
a: \talks.stm
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7