talks.BB.JRB
END OF YEAR INTERVIEWS WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE
HONG KONG: TALKS WITH CHINA ON 1994/95 ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS
Fully support the Governor's decision to start the legislative process made with the full agreement of Ministers.
Disappointing that after 160 hours of talks we have not been able to reach agreement,
on the straightforward issues in the interim package (lowering voting age to 18 and introducing single seat-single vote method for all Hong Kong elections; ending the practice of the Governor appointing members to the District Boards and Municipal Councils). None is controversial in Hong Kong or inconsistent with the Chinese Basic Law.
Our aim all along has been to reach an understanding with China on election arrangements that are open, fair and
acceptable to Hong Kong people. We have made great efforts to achieve this.
- We are now up against time constraints and, as I told the House of Commons, on 6 December, the Governor had to introduce legislation on the more urgent issues on 15 December before LegCo's Christmas recess, if the electoral arrangements are to be in place in time. It is our duty under the Joint Declaration to ensure that they are.
The Hong
District Board elections are due in September 1994. Kong Government needs to get on with drawing up constituency boundaries and voter registers.
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Legislating on the less complicated issues now gives a little more time to resolve the remainder.
We have not broken off the talks. We have made it clear that we are ready to carry forward our discussions on the remaining issues (principally the Election Committee, the Functional Constituencies and the Through Train).
- We would prefer to be able to proceed on the basis of
agreement with China if possible, and continue to attach
importance to cooperation with China over Hong Kong on the basis of the Joint Declaration.