XN000022-1993-10-06 — Page 48

36

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1993

FIRST, A NEW PROPOSAL HAS BEEN DEVISED FOR THE NINE NEW HAVE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, BASED ON ORGANISATIONS AS THE CHINESE ARGUED, AND WITH A TOTAL ELIGIBLE ELECTORATE OF ABOUT A THIRD OF IN HIS ORIGINAL PROPOSAL.

THAT

"WE CONTINUE TO INSIST THAT ELECTORS SHOULD VOTE INDIVIDUALLY, NOT CORPORATELY.

SECONDLY, THE BRITISH SIDE HAS TRIED TO MEET CHINA'S PREFERENCE FOR A FOUR-SECTOR ELECTION COMMITTEE OF THE KIND SET OUT IN THE BASIC LAW FOR THE POST-1997 ELECTION COMMITTEE.

"WE CONTINUE ΤΟ ARGUE THAT ALL COMMITTEE SHOULD THEMSELVES BE ELECTED.

11

MEMBERS OF THE ELECTION

IIE REITERATED THAT THESE WERE MAJOR MOVES THAT WERE NOT MADE LIGHTLY. NEITHER WERE THEY MERE NEGOTIATING PLOYS.

"THEY

ARE EVIDENCE OF OUR SINCERITY, OUR FLEXIBILITY, AND OUR DETERMINATION TO MAKE A SUCCESS OF THESE TALKS."

BUT MR PATTEN SAID THE BRITISH SIDE'S ROOM FOR MANOEUVRE WAS LIMITED IF THEY WERE TO REMAIN, AS THEY MUST, TRUE TO THE PRINCIPLE THAT ELECTION

IN HONG KONG SHOULD BE FAIR,

ARRANGEMENTS

ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY.

OPEN

THE BASIC

AND

LAW

IT IS NOT ABOUT THE PACE OF DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT; THE PACE IS

IN THE BASIC LAW AND WILL NOT CHANGE UNLESS OUT ITSELF IS CHANGED.

SET

IT IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT IS OPEN, HE SAID.

FAIR

AND

MAY BE

LAW, FREEDOMS AND

ON

"IF WE ALLOW A SYSTEM TO DEVELOP IN WHICH ELECTIONS

WE COMPROMISED,

INVITE CORRUPTION; WE ENDANGER THE RULE OF WHICH OUR SUCCESS DEPENDS; AND WE RISK LOSING MANY OF THE THAT PROTECT OUR WAY OF LIFE AND WHICH BOTH THE JOINT DECLARATION THE BASIC LAW SEEK TO GUARANTEE.

I

THE GOVERNOR SAID: "WE SHALL STICK TO OUR PRINCIPLES.

P

AN

"WE SHALL ALSO CONTINUE TO SEEK FROM THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AGREEMENT ON OBJECTIVE CRITERIA FOR THE THROUGH TRAIN', SO THAT THOSE WHO WHO MAY WANT TO RUN FOR ELECTION TO THIS COUNCIL AS WELL AS THOSE

OF THE VOTE FOR THEM IN 1995 KNOW BEFORE THEY DO SO WHAT THE RULES GAME WILL BE."

IT

MR PATTEN SAID THE BRITISH SIDE BELIEVED STRONGLY THAT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT WHICH WAS FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH THE JOINT DECLARATION, ANY OTHER AGREEMENTS AND THE BASIC LAW, AND WHICH SATISFIED THE BRITISH PRINCIPLES AND CHINESE CONCERNS.

SIDE'S

"BUT WE NOW HAVE ONLY WEEKS RATHER THAN MONTHS то THESE TALKS.

CONCLUDE

THERE WILL