TNAG-1845-FCO40-2620-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 110

1989-03-25

13:45 G. 1.5

33 P.22

Edward Rowlands: described Suggested notice

This morning, the Secretary of State the process of consultation as exhaustive' and it was also it was convoluted. Or we put it that it was convoluted.

the Basic Law that the Chinese Government or the Chinese authorities think that actually a referendum might be the solution to

whether they should go over to universal direct alectione the whole Legislative Council. Why are

decide

•

so shy between now and 1997 to Fest Hong Kong opinion on the speed or Progress towards direct elections by a referendum if the Chinese themselves are

willing to write into their Basic Law 2 future referendum process.

Governor:

consultation. certainly

proce33

in

very

They've put into the second draft the provision for a possible referendum and certain conditions for holding the referendum. We've found we've never had a tradition of referende Hong Kong. We've

never used that particular device. We have A long tradition of consultation. a very elaborate

I don't know if exhaustive is the right term very thorough-going consultation. We were doing that case on a series of issues which were not really straightforward. clear-cut yes/no answerS such as might have been the ca3e referenda which have been held in the United Kingdom and that the best way to do it was to do it through the process consultation which Hong Kong is familiar with.

in

the

We thought

Edward Rowlands:

But in fact under the Basic Law a Very simple roposition will be put forward. if it is agreed. that a referendum be heid on whether the Legislative Council should be elected by a general

lection. That's a pretty simple proposition I mean

gument

that

and

an

༣ raging in Hong Kong. why between now and 1997 Couldn' you consider the possibility of just putting a Very simple

eferendum proposal of that kind to the people of Hong

9977

Kong

before

Vernor!

tor 1997?

Do you mean a referendum on what should happen

Ward Rowlands:

That the Legislative Council should be much more

Fractly elected than the one that's been proposed.

Minor:

Well, I think..

Ward Rowlande:

1928 that has occurred.

As opposed to the White Paper and the convoluted

Chor:

સંઘવી

very

I think because we have gone through the going ProcesS of consultation already and we've taken a on on what happens in 1991.

I wouldn't wish to go through that

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