WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1993
AGENDA TO FIND FAIR AND OPEN ELECTIONS
THE BRITISH TEAM WILL CONCENTRATE ON AGENDA WHICH IS WHAT CAN BE DONE TO FIND ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS THAT WILL BE FAIR, OPEN AND ACCEPTABLE, THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
FROM
RESPONDING TO PRESS QUESTIONS ABOUT RECENT CRITICISM CHINESE OFFICIALS AFTER VISITING THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "I THINK IT IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT TO LOOK FOR POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE WAYS OF FINDING A SOLUTION RATHER THAN JUST TO
CRITICISE US."
CONCEPT,
ASKED ABOUT OBJECTIVE CRITERIA FOR THE THROUGH TRAIN HE SAID : "WHAT WE ACTUALLY WANT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RULES OF THE GAME ARE CLEAR BEFORE 1995, NOT ONLY FOR WOULD-BE LEGISLATORS BUT ALSO FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR THEM.
"IT REALLY WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE ELECTORATE IN 1995 WHEN THEY CAST THEIR BALLOT, NOT TO KNOW WHETHER THE PERSON THEY WERE VOTING FOR WOULD BE ABLE TO TRAVEL THROUGH TO 1999."
ON QUESTION ABOUT SEPARATING DISTRICT BOARD AND MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ELECTIONS, THE GOVERNOR SAID: "THE IMPORTANT THING WHICH EVERYBODY HAS GOT TO RECOGNISE IS THAT TIME IS NOW EXTREMELY SHORT.
**WE ARE ACTUALLY CUTTING THINGS EXTREMELY FINE. WE HAVE TO HAVE IN PLACE, BY NEXT JULY, THE LEGISLATION FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS.
MUNICIPAL
"SO TO TALK ABOUT SEPARATING THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND COUNCILS, IT WOULD BE WELCOME IF IT WAS DONE IN THE WAY I SUGGESTED AND WE COULD GET ON WITH THOSE THINGS AND WOULDN'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THEM ENDLESSLY.
"BUT
EVEN IF THAT WAS ACCEPTED, WE HAVE STILL GOT VERY TIME TO DEAL WITH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ISSUES.
LITTLE
"SO IN MY VIEW, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THOSE MATTERS WHICH SHOULD BE NON-CONTROVERSIAL PUT ON ONE SIDE BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES."
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