TNAG-1852-FCO40-2627-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-enquiry-1989 — Page 137

POPAAL (5)

CONFIDENTIAL

3.18

The first Chief Executive should be elected six months before the

transfer of sovereignty:

We are also thinking on these lines, but without such a specific

time frame.

518

The second and subsequent Chief Executives should be elected by universal suffrage:

We will need to keep this under review as opinion evolves in Hong

Kong. The FAC's position is consistent with OMELCO's proposal that

direct elections of the Chief Executive should be introduced no

later than 2003.

3.22

4.3

The balance of power should be firmly in favour of the legislature

rather than the Executive:

The

We will need to review this with the Hong Kong Government.

FAC argues that the legislature will be directly answerable to the people of Hong Kong, whereas the Chief Executive will also be answerable to Peking. They argue that in the case of irreconcilable

conflict between the legislature and the Chief Executive the latter

should resign.

BRITISH POLICY AND ACTIONS

Progress and prosperity of Hong Kong of enormous importance to UK

and to British interests:

Agreed.

4.2577

Britain should maintain relations with PRC but not hesitate to be

robust, especially over human rights:

Agreed.

CONFIDENTIAL