TNAG-2012-FCO40-2864-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1991-1990 — Page 102

CONFIDENTIAL

THE C121'

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 636

OF 19120OZ FEBRUARY 90

1

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

160275

MDHIAN 7646

CORRECTED VERSION PARAGRAPH TWO THIRD LINE

PERSONAL FOR PAUL, HKD FROM GOVERNOR

PEKING PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR

UKREP JLG HONG KONG PERSONAL FOR GALSWORTHY

Bit

PEKING TELNO 256: CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1. IN 1995 THERE IS NO/NO QUESTION OF DOING ANYTHING OTHER THAN

CREATING A LEGISLATURE OF 60 SEATS IN THE PROPORTIONS LAID DOWN IN

THE BASIC LAW.

2. BUT I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT SHOULD BE THOUGHT THAT WE ARE

OBLIGED TO HAVE A LEGISLATURE OF PRECISELY 60 SEATS IN 1991. WE CANNOT MAKE THE PROPORTIONS THE SAME IN 1991 AS IN 1995, EVEN IF WE WISHED TO SINCE THAT WOULD INVOLVE REMOVING ALL OFFICIALS AND INTRODUCING A GEC, NEITHER OF WHICH SEEMS SENSIBLE. WE ALSO HAVE TO LEAVE ROOM FOR 2 EXTRA DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN 1995.

3. WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO START MOVING FROM OUR PRESENT LEGISLATURE OF 56 SEATS WITH NO DIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS, AND 14 FROM FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, TOWARDS THE 1995 MODEL. WE ARE COMMITTED TO BRINGING IN 18 DIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS. IT WOULD ALSO MAKE SENSE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF FUNCTIONAL SEATS BUT NOT/NOT I BELIEVE TO THE FULL 30 MEMBERS WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE THERE IN 1995. THE REMAINDER WILL BE MADE UP OF APPOINTED MEMBERS AND OFFICIALS, BOTH OF WHICH WILL HAVE TO GO IN 1995. THE TOTAL MAY OR MAY NOT ADD UP TO EXACTLY 60, IT COULD WELL BE SLIGHTLY LESS BUT WOULD CERTAINLY NOT BE MORE.

4. I AM NOT CLEAR WHY THIS APPROACH MIGHT LEAD TO A MAJOR ROW WITH

THE CHINESE.

WILSON