XN000022-1993-03-05 — Page 2

FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1993

1

GOVERNOR MAKES STATEMENT TO LEGCO

FOLLOWING IS THE

STATEMENT BY THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (

(FRIDAY):

MR PRESIDENT

—

AND CAN I SAY STRAIGHTAWAY WHAT A PLEASURE IT IS TO USE THOSK WORDS ABOUT YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME

MR PRESIDENT. I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE THIS AFTERNOON TO FULFIL MY PROMISE то HONOURABLE MEMBERS TO KEEP THEM INFORMED OF PROGRESS ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUES. HONOURABLE MEMBERS WILL HAVE HEARD A NUMBER OF STATEMENTS MADE BY SENIOR CHINESE OFFICIALS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS AND I THINK IT IS INCUMBENT ON ME ΤΟ SET OUT THE POSITION AS WE SEE IT.

AS

HONOURABLE MEMBERS WILL KNOW, DIPLOMATIC CONTACTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN RECENT WEEKS IN PEKING. OUR AIM HAS BEEN ΤΟ EXPLORE WHETHER A FIRM AND PRODUCTIVE BASIS COULD BE FOUND FOR THE TWO SIDES ΤΟ ENTER FORMAL TALKS ON THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS.

IN ANNOUNCING LAST WEEK THAT THE BILL EMBODYING THOSE ARRANGEMENTS WOULD NOT BE PUBLISHED ON 26 FEBRUARY, THE GOVERNMENT PROMISED то SET OUT THE REASONS FOR THE DELAY. 1 WOULD LIKE то EXPLAIN то HONOURABLE MEMBERS THIS AFTERNOON, EXACTLY WHERE WE NOW STAND.

SINCE MY

POLICY ADDRESS LAST OCTOBER, WE HAVE MADE CLEAR THAT WE ARE READY TO TALK AT ANY TIME AND WITHOUT PRE- CONDITIONS IN AN EFFORT TO REACH AN UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CHINESE SIDE ON THESE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS. THIS COUNCIL IS ALREADY EXAMINING THE BOUNDARIES AND ELECTION COMMISSION BILL. EXCO ENDORSED, ON 2 FEBRUARY DRAFT LEGISLATION EMBODYING THE REMAINDER OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSALS THAT I MADE ON 7 OCTOBER, SO THERE IS NO MYSTERY ABOUT WHAT THE DRAFT LEGISLATION CONTAINS. WE PASSED A COPY OF IT TO THE CHINESE SIDE ON 6 FEBRUARY. AT THE SAME TIME WE REPEATED FORMALLY OUR WILLINGNESS TO TALK AT ANY TIME WITHOUT PRE- CONDITIONS; AND WE EXPLAINED TO THE CHINESE SIDE THAT THE BILL WAS READY FOR GAZETTING.

WE RECEIVED A POSITIVE RESPONSE ON THE PRINCIPLE OF TALKS FROM THE CHINESE SIDE. TO HELP ENSURE THAT TALKS GOT OFF TO THE BEST POSSIBLE START, I THEREFORE DECIDRD, WITH THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, TO POSTPONE OUR ORIGINAL PLAN FOR GAZETTAL ON 12 FEBRUARY, WHILE MAKING CLEAR TO THE CHINESE SIDE THAT THERE COULD NOT BE AN INDEFINITE DELAY, GIVEN THE PRACTICAL NEED TO PRESS AHEAD WITH LEGISLATION. WE PROPOSED AN EARLY STARTING DATE FOR THE TALKS AND TOLD THE CHINESE SIDE OF THE COMPOSITION OF OUR NEGOTIATING TEAM.

WITH

IN THE ABSENCE OF A CHINESE RESPONSE, I DECIDED, THE ADVICE OF EXCO, TO DELAY GAZETTAL FOR A SECOND TIME ON 19 FEBRUARY AND FOR A THIRD TIME ON 26 FEBRUARY. WE WISHED TO GIVE EVERY POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CHINESE SIDE TO RESPOND.

IN MY JUDGEMENT, HONOURABLE MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITY WOULD EXPECT US TO GO THE EXTRA MILE IN AN EFFORT TO SECURE PRODUCTIVE TALKS WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT.

/AT THE