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MDHAN 4460
WISH TO MIRROR THESE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE GEC. SINCE WE DO NOT HAVE TIME TO WORK OUT THE DETAILS OURSELVES, IT WOULD BE UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT THAT WE CAN REACH FULL AGREEMENT WITH THE CHINESE ON THESE COMPLEX QUESTIONS BEFORE THE BLDC PLENARY BEGINNING FEBRUARY 13. WE MAY WELL HAVE TO SETTLE FOR AN UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CHINESE THAT DETAILS SHOULD BE WORKED OUT AT A LATER STAGE AND FULL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES MUST BE REACHED IF CONVERGENCE IS TO BE ACHIEVED.
8. WE AGREE THAT ACTUAL ELECTION TO LEGCO SEATS SHOULD NOT/NOT HAVE
THE TO BE MEMBERS OF EITHER A GEC CONSTITUENCY OR THE GEC ITSELF. VALUE OF A GEC WILL BE TO PROVIDE A POINT OF ENTRY TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR WORTHY CITIZENS WHO COMMAND MORE THAN SECTORAL SUPPORT AND WHO MIGHT BE UNWILLING TO GO THROUGH THE AGONY OF THE DIRECT ELECTION PROCESS.
NATIONALITY/RIGHT OF ABODE RESTRICTIONS
9. WE AGREE THAT WE SHOULD ARGUE AGAINST THESE RESTRICTIONS ON THE BASIS OF DIFFICULTIES WE WOULD FACE IN THEIR PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION. WE THINK WE SHALL NEED A FALLBACK IN CASE THE CHINESE INSIST ON RETAINING THIS SORT OF RESTRICTION. ON THE FACE OF IT A CEILING OF 25 PER CENT OF LEGCO MEMBERS WITH FOREIGN NATIONALITY/RIGHT OF ABODE WOULD SEEM TO BE AN ACCEPTABLE FIGURE EVEN THOUGH THE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES WOULD, IN THEORY REMAIN.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
25
LIMITED
HKD
PS
PS/MR MAUDE
NNNN
DISTRIBUTION
25
MR GILLMORE
MR MCLAREN
SIR P CRADOCK NO 10.
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