XN000022-1993-04-06 — Page 16

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TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 1993

in 1995? Three, is it a bottom line that the Legislative Council has the last word after the negotiations are finished?

CHRIS PATTEN: Let me deal with your bottom lines in reverse order. Thirdly, the constitutional position is perfectly clear. The Legislative Council has to agree on the electoral arrangements, on the legislation to the electoral arrangements within Hong Kong. It is quite interesting to see what the basic law says about the Legislative Council's role in relation to electoral arrangements as well.

The Letters Patent and the Royal instructions are absolutely clear. That has not been disputed. I very much doubt whether proposals which were acceptable to Britain and China would be unacceptable to the Legislative Council. That is a statement again of reality.

emerge from talks between Britain and China which I would not commend to the Community, otherwise it would put me in an impossible position. I am sure it would put Her Majesty's Government in an impossible position. My judgment is that if we could reach an agreement with China which we were able to recommend to the Community, the Legislative Council would be likely to pass it.

I would certainly not wish proposals to

Secondly, the through-train and the position of Legislative Councillors. Let me explain the position.

It is of course for

the sovereign power in July 1997 to make decisions about these matters, but the Community needs to be sure what it is getting for the through-train it it is making sacrifices in its aspirations in 1994 and 1995 in order to secure this mode of transport. If the through-train is not only to be so designed

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