SECRET
FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 323
OF 24120OZ JANUARY 90
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
SECRET
NK B
01214
RECEIVED IN TRY
0 2FEB 1990
दिल
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
REGISTRY
HA
Action Taken
046754 MDHIAN 3713
INFO PRIORITY UKREP JLG HONG KONG
1
YOUR TELNO 208: BASIC LAW: MEETING OF THE BLDC SPECIAL GROUP ON THE POLITICAL SYSTEM
1. OUR COMMENTS ON THE POINTS RAISED IN TUR ON THE SPECIAL GROUP'S LATEST RECOMMENDATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS. (WE ARE REPORTING EXCO'S VIEWS, AND OUR CONCLUSIONS ON THE WAY AHEAD ON THE POLITICAL STRUCTURE PROVISIONS IN THE BL, SEPARATELY. THE FOLLOWING ARE THEREFORE PRELIMINARY GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH COMMENTS IN REPLY TO POINTS RAISED IN TUR AND NO SPECIFIC ACTION IS REQUIRED ON THEM AT THIS STAGE.)
SEPARATE VOTE COUNTING
2. THIS HAS NOW BECOME A MAJOR PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS SEEN AS CPG'S UNILATERAL IMPOSITION OF ITS WISHES ON HONG KONG AGAINST STRONG LOCAL OBJECTIONS. IT IS NOTEWORTHY THAT SO FAR NEITHER THE MEDIA NOR THE POLITICAL GROUPS HAVE POINTED OUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SECOND ROUND VOTING ARRANGEMENT (I.E. SIMPLE MAJORITY) FOR GOVERNMENT BILLS. INSTEAD THEY HAVE CRITICISED THE CHINESE FOR IGNORING HONG KONG VIEWS FOR THE SAKE OF GIVING FACE TO SUPPORTERS OF BICAMERALISM.
3. WE THEREFORE FEEL THAT, DESPITE OUR ASSESSMENT THAT THE SEPARATE VOTING ARRANGEMENTS MIGHT WELL HAVE LITTLE PRACTICAL EFFECT AS FAR AS GOVERNMENT BILLS ARE CONCERNED, WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DROP THEM. (WE NOW UNDERSTAND THAT MISS TAM'S PROPOSAL OF A TRIGGER MECHANISM FOR SEPARATE VOTE COUNTING AT THE REQUEST OF SIX MEMBERS WAS MEANT TO APPLY ONLY TO PRIVATE BILLS, OR AMENDMENTS TO GOVERNMENT BILLS, INTRODUCED BY MEMBERS: ONLY A SIMPLE MAJORITY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PASS A GOVERNMENT BILL UNDER HER PROPOSAL).
ELECTION COMMITTEE
4. TO ENSURE CONVERGENCE, IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO MAKE CLEAR PROVISIONS IN PARA. 6 OF THE DRAFT DECISION OF THE NPC ON THE
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