„HOUSE HONG KONG.
1
מ.ני
5.
CONFIDENTIAL
As I have explained in my message of 18 January,
the main differences between us lie in two areas : the
numbers of directly elected seats, and the compatibility of
the systems before and after 1997.
6.
We are not far apart on directly elected seats, but there is a real problem over the number the Chinese side has in mind for 1997. I have explained the pressures
we are under to introduce 20 directly elected seats in
1991.
18 January, I said that if the
to provide for 24 seats (40
In my message of
Chinese side were prepared percent) in 1997, we would be willing to restrict the
number in 1991 to 18 (30
It will be very
difficult for us to do this unless you can increase the
number beyond 20 in 1997.
7.
percent).
As regards compatibility, I have three concerns. Firstly, on voting arrangements, people in Hong Kong attach importance to а straightforward system, of the kind which is now used in the Legislative Council. Reports about the introduction of a new differential voting system have
caused widespread concern in Hong Kong, especially among moderate sensible opinion. Apart from its unfamiliarity, people fear that such a system would impede the legislative process without producing any corresponding benefits.
8.
election or
Secondly, I emphasised in my message of 18 January
the importance we attach to ensuring that any grand
electoral college
used committee
to elect
members of the legislature should be a fully representative
body constituted in an open way. I await your assurance that this is what the Chinese side have in mind. It will
also be important that the details of the composition and constitution of any grand electoral college are made clear to Hong Kong people to reassure them about the nature of their proposed future political system. We could then consider introducing similar arrangements in 1995, thereby ensuring continuity. This would be the subject of closer
consultation between our two sides.
CONFIDENTIAL
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