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OF THE BASIC LAW: ''DEMOCRACY AND OPENNESS'' I WOULD BE WILLING TO CONSIDER THE INCLUSION OF ELECTORS WHO ARE AS DEMOCRATIC AS THOSE I HAVE PROPOSED (EG. NPC AND CPPCC DELEGATES ELECTED BY UNIVERSAL FRANCHISE). I AM ALSO OPEN ON THE VOTING METHOD FOR THE ELECTION COMMITTEE. ON FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND THE VOTING SYSTEM FOR GEOGRAPHICAL CONSTITUENCIES, I WOULD BE WILLING TO CONSIDER ANY PROPOSALS WHICH ARE AS BROADLY BASED, FAIR AND OPEN AS MY OWN (ALTHOUGH IT IS HARD TO THINK OF ANY). I WILL STRESS THAT MY PROPOSALS EITHER HAVE MET OR COULD MEET CHINA'S TWO MAIN DEMANDS (NO MORE DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS AND NO MARTIN LEE ON EXCO), THAT THEY ARE COMPATIBLE WITH THE BASIC LAW, AND THAT IT IS POLITICALLY UNREALISTIC AND INDEED WOULD BE DESTABILISING FOR ME TO OFFER NOTHING TO MEET THE ASPIRATIONS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE FOR MORE DEMOCRACY.
5. I WILL NO DOUBT BE TREATED TO A TIRADE ON WHY I SHOULD NOT HAVE ANNOUNCED MY PROPOSALS ON 7 OCTOBER AND WHY THEY ARE CONTRARY TO THE BASIC LAW. I WILL ASK LU WHETHER HE HAS ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS TO MAKE AND WILL BE HAPPY TO RESPOND TO ANYTHING HE PUTS FORWARD. IF HE FAILS TO PUT FORWARD ANY SUGGESTIONS, THIS WOULD OF COURSE PUT US IN A STRONGER PUBLIC POSITION.
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6 I HAVE NO EXPECTATION THAT WE WILL REACH AGREEMENT ON THESE ISSUES. BUT UNLESS LU PING HIMSELF SAYS THAT THERE IS NO POINT IN TALKING FURTHER, I PLAN TO INVITE HIM TO VISIT HONG KONG AT HIS EARLIEST CONVENIENCE (IN PRACTICE THIS WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO BE EARLY DECEMBER BECAUSE OF MY OVERSEAS VISITS) TO CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSIONS. I WOULD NEVERTHELESS EMPHASISE THE NEED TO BRING THEM TO A CONCLUSION BY THE END OF THE YEAR SO AS TO ALLOW LEGISLATION TO BE PUT TO LEGCO IN THE NEW YEAR.
I WILL NOT
MYSELF PROPOSE DISCUSSION OF MY PROPOSALS IN THE JLG BUT I WILL NOT RESIST IT IF LU DOES, ALTHOUGH IT WOULD HAVE TO BE WITHIN THE SAME TIME SCALE.
7. IF LU DECLINES TO HOLD ANY FURTHER DISCUSSIONS, I WOULD OF COURSE EMPHASISE IN PUBLIC THAT I HAD OFFERED TO CONTINUE CONSULTATIONS BUT THAT THE CHINESE HAD TURNED THIS PROPOSAL DOWN.
8. YOU ARE AWARE OF WHAT I PLAN TO SAY ON THE CIVIL SERVICE, AND
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