CONFIDENTIAL
171257
MDHIAN 879
SECOND, A REPLY OF 20 JANUARY 1990 DELIVERED BY MR CHEN ZIYING, THEN HEAD OF THE HONG KONG AND MACAO AFFAIRS OFFICE OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, TO THE THEN BRITISH AMBASSADOR. THE CHINESE SIDE MADE CLEAR THAT THEY COULD NOT AGREE TO MR HURD'S PROPOSALS ON DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS.
THIRD, A FURTHER MESSAGE FROM MR HURD TO MR QIAN OF 31 JANUARY 1990. MR HURD DREW ATTENTION TO THE REAL CONCERN AND DISAPPOINTMENT IN HONG KONG OVER THE OUTCOME OF THE RECENTLY HELD BASIC LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE SPECIAL GROUP MEETING. HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES: THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS AND THE QUESTION OF COMPATIBILITY OF SYSTEMS BEFORE AND AFTER 1997. HE PRESSED AGAIN FOR AN INCREASE IN DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS. HE EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING THAT ANY GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE OR ELECTION COMMITTEE USED TO ELECT MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD BE FULLY REPRESENTATIVE BODY CONSTITUTED IN AN OPEN WAY. HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT THAT THE DETAILS OF THE COMPOSITION AND CONSTITUTION OF ANY GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE WERE MADE CLEAR TO HONG KONG PEOPLE TO REASSURE THEM ABOUT THE NATURE OF THEIR PROPOSED FUTURE POLITICAL SYSTEM.
FOURTH, A REPLY FROM MR QIAN OF 3 FEBRUARY 1990. HE REGRETTED THAT THE BRITISH SIDE HAD FAILED TO MAKE ANY CONCESSIONS. HE TURNED DOWN THE OFFER WHICH HAD BEEN MADE BY MR HURD FOR BRITISH OFFICIALS TO TRAVEL TO PEKING FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THESE MATTERS.
FIFTH, THREE PAPERS WHICH WERE HANDED TO THE CHINESE SIDE ON 6 FEBRUARY 1990 - ON THE ELECTION COMMITTEE, ON VOTING PROCEDURES FOR THE SAR LEGISLATURE, AND ON THE CHINESE NATIONALITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SAR LEGISLATURE.
(A) IN THE PAPER ON THE ELECTION COMMITTEE, THE BRITISH SIDE PUT FORWARD FIVE PRINCIPLES WHICH COULD BEST FORM THE FRAMEWORK FOR ITS ESTABLISHMENT:
(I) THE COMMITTEE SHOULD NOT ITSELF BE AN INSTITUTION OF GOVERNMENT.
(II) ITS COMPOSITION SHOULD BE DESIGNED, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, TO AVOID DIRECT DUPLICATION OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF OTHER CONSTITUENCIES RETURNING OTHER MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
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