TNAG-2033-FCO40-2896-Visit-by-Douglas-Hurd--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-and-Co-1990 — Page 55

4... GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE

PROVISIONS ON GRAND ELECTORAL COLLEGE ARE JUST ANOTHER SELL

OUT

Grand Electoral College concept will enable people who have

made valuable contribution to the community, who would not

wish to stand for direct election and who do not qualify for

one of the functional constituencies to serve in the

legislature.

Crucial thing is that arrangements for GEC should be fair, open and democratic. This is a point we addressed with the

Chinese in our discussions.

This opens the way for us to establish a Grand Electoral College according to the principles we outlined in 1995 and for Legislative Council members returned by that GEC to continue in office in 1997. Provides for continuity and stability. Much preferable to GEC which comes into being only in 1997 under arrangements over which we exercise no

influence.

DENAAQ (7)