16
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1994
MS EMILY LAU: MR PRESIDENT, I WANT TO ASK THE GOVERNOR A QUESTION ABOUT ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS WHICH MAY BE IN BREACH OF THE BASIC LAW,
PLACE BECAUSE EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON HE KEPT TALKING ABOUT PUTTING IN ARRANGEMENTS WHICH ARE IN LINE WITH THE BASIC LAW. BUT OF COURSE WHEN WE SAW THE FOREIGN SECRETARY LAST YEAR, HE SAID THE IMPORTANCE IS THAT THEY ARE IN LINE WITH BRITAIN'S INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS. AS THE INCLUDING GOVERNOR RIGHTLY POINTED OUT JUST THEN THAT CERTAIN PEOPLE,
BR MYSELF WOULD BE MOVING AN AMENDMENT FOR 60 SEATS IN THE COUNCIL TO DIRECTLY ELECTED IN 1995 AND THAT I GUESS THE GOVERNOR WOULD SAY IS NOT IN LINE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE BASIC LAW. MR PRESIDENT, I WANT TO ASK THE GOVERNOR WHAT WILL HE AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DO BRITISH THEN IF IT IS BLATANTLY IN BREACH OF THE BASIC LAW, WOULD THE ADMINISTRATION MOVE TO BLOCK IT OR WOULD YOU STILL SAY THAT IT IS IN LINE WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION, ALSO IN LINE WITH BRITAIN'S INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS SO YOU WILL SUPPORT IT. THANK YOU.
I
THE GOVERNOR: WELL, I'M OF COURSE UNQUALIFIED, AND UNABASHED ADMIRER OF THE HONOURABLE LADY'S POLITICAL AND RHETORICAL TALENTS, BUT I THINK WOULD LIKE TO SEE A MAJORITY BEFORE I ANSWER THE QUESTION. I KNOW THAT THE HONOURABLE LADY HAS AN UNSHAKABLE AND WHOLLY HONOURABLE COMMITMENT TO A TOTALLY DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM IN HONG KONG, WELL BEFORE 2007 AND PREFERABLY NEXT WEEK, AND I RESPECT THE HONOURABLE LADY'S COURAGE IN ARGUING FOR THAT AND CONSISTENCY IN ARGUING FOR THAT, BUT I DON'T HONESTLY THINK THAT THE HONOURABLE LADY IS GOING TO BE, SHE MAY PROVE ME WRONG, SHE'S PROVED BRITISH POLITICIANS WRONG ON OCCASIONS IN THE PAST, AND ASKED DIFFICULT QUESTIONS OF BRITISH POLITICIANS, I DON'T THINK THE HONOURABLE LADY IS LIKELY TO SECURE THE OUTCOME IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WHICH SHE UNDERSTANDABLY AND HONOURABLE HAS SET. IF SHE DOES I'LL ANSWER THE QUESTION.
MS
IS
QUESTION EVEN
BE MY
BR
EMILY LAU: THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT ANSWERED MY QUESTION. MY WHETHER HE WILL BLOCK IT, IF HE BLOCKS IT THEN IT CAN'T INTRODUCED. IF IT IS GIVEN A CHANCE MAYBE IT WILL BE DEFEATED BY COLLEAGUES, MAYBE IT WILL BE CARRIED, IF IT IS NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO INTRODUCED, SO HOW CAN I PROVE TO YOU.
/THE GOVERNOR: