TNAG-1843-FCO40-2618-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 52

ROYAKO

DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG:

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

1.

Congressional resolution on direct elections in Hong Kong

I understand that Congressman Porter has introduced a non-binding resolution into the US House of Representatives urging the British Government to ensure the highest possible degree of direct elections

in 1991 and 1994 the Legislative Council to establish democratic

institutions before China has control. I understand that the draft

resolution also calls on President Bush to stress to us and to China

the importance the US places on guarantees of basic human rights in Hong Kong and the continuation of Hong Kong's capitalist system.

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- I think you will be aware from all that has been written and said

that we too place great weight on these issues. We are proceeding with the development of direct elections at the pace we judge to be in the interests of the Hong Kong community as a whole. The Joint Declaration and the draft Basic Law specifically provide that the capitalist system shall remain unchanged for the next 50 years, and that the international human rights covenants as presently applied

to Hong Kong shall continue in force.