TNAG-1844-FCO40-2619-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 53

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TRANSCRIPT C - BORG LONG SELECT COMMITTEE MEETING

11

22 MAR 89

FOREIGE SECRETARY:

There is scope for

The draft

Well the changes take place in 1991. further changes to take place between then and 1997. Basic Law, it self-provides for a fully elected Legislature by 1997 although only 15 of them directly-elevied in the draft Basic Law as it would apply to 1997 and the rest indirectly elected.

As you will remember, the Basic Law itself provides for continued progress towards a fully representative government on

the timescale there sel nui.

So the future is spelt out progressively in the draft Basic Luw, where there is still further discussion to take place in

MR SHORE:

Peferonde

and

mn

Did I understand it, because it is really rather important, the draft Basic Law envisages, as you say, that there could be 15

That 15 would be out of, as I directly elected members by 1997. understand it, a total number of 80 as it would be at that stage.

Does this nut effectively, as it were, put a limit to the development of democratic representative government in Hong Kong between now and 1997 if the draft Basic Law le saying that there

Does this not narrow enormously the shall be 15 as of that date?

possibilities of development from the present position, or poiliva that lo akut to come into effect 12 1001 and

developments before 19977