TNAG-1753-FCO40-2473-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Parliamentary-debates-1988 — Page 25

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of Hong Kong people for greater participation in their government:

the Legislative Council formed in 1982 contained no elected

members. All non-official members were appointed by the Governor;

the Joint Declaration, concluded in 1984, provided that after

1997 the legislature should be constituted by elections;

-

the Legislative Council formed in 1985 introduced two categories

of indirectly elected members, together making up just over 40% of

the total membership;

this component will be slightly strengthened in the coming autumn's elections; and in 1991 ten directly elected seats will be

introduced;

it is already clear, from the various options contained in the draft Basic Law, that after 1997 at least 25% of the legislature of

the Special Administrative Region will be directly elected.

10.

We consider that this evolution steady and gradual

constitutes an appropriate response to the wishes expressed by

people in Hong Kong. It also accommodates well the particular

traditions of Hong Kong; its unique historical and geographical circumstances. I suggest that it is by these criteria that it should be judged, not by comparison, for example, with the

Westminister model.

11.

Let me turn now to the draft Basic Law. I should begin by

briefly recalling the background. The Joint Declaration provides that the policies of China which it sets out will be stipulated in a Basic Law, to be promulgated by the National People's Congress of

China. To this end the Chinese Government established in 1985 a

Basic Law Drafting Committee, just under half of whose membership is drawn from various circles in Hong Kong. That committee in turn set up a broadly-based Consultative Committee, consisting entirely of Hong Kong people, with the task of consulting all the sections of the community from which they were drawn and reflecting their views.

to the Basic Law drafters.

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