TNAG-1721-FCO40-2401-Hong-Kong-1987-Review-of-Representative-Government-delegati-1988 — Page 92

COHAEK

CONFIDENTIAL

HURB 011/2

RECORD OF A CALL ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE BY MR MARTIN LEE:

19 JANUARY 1988

33'

Present:

2 5 JAN 1988

The Secretary of State

Mr Martin Lee QC

Mr A C Galsworthy

Mr CO Hum, HKD

1.

Mr Lee apologised for the confusion over his call on the

His delegation had prevailed on him to change

Secretary of State.

his mind.

2. Mr Lee said he was concerned about the way in which the drafting of the Basic Law was going. It was likely that the first

draft would contain provision for a legislature in which 50% of the

seats would be selected by a Grand Electoral College, 25% by direct

elections and 25% by functional constituencies. This would mean

that the executive would control 50% of the legislature: there would

be no meaningful accountability.

3. Mr Lee said that he had been impressed by the Joint

Declaration. He had thought it was possible for the "one country,

two systems" concept to work. He had told the NCNA that as long as there was a possibility of the concept working he would do his utmost to help. But with a legislature along the lines he had

described the concept would not have any reality.

4.

There was a sense of grievance in Hong Kong. The public

perception was that the British Government, which controlled

everything in the territory, were surrendering more and more

autonomy to China. The British team on the JLG had done good work.

But too much had been sacrificed. With a really representative

structure in place after 1997 those in power would know that if they

did not work for Hong Kong people and stand up to China they would

not be re-elected. If there was not such a democratic system no-one

would stand up to China. The Chinese put great emphasis on sovereignty but what they sought was control.

CONFIDENTIAL