TNAG-2079-FCO40-2959-Hong-Kong-press-coverage-and-reports-1990 — Page 356

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FM HONG KONG

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INFO ROUTINE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON, PEKING

INFO ROUTINE UKREP JLG HONG KONG, HKGOWASHINGTON, HKGO NEW YORK INFO ROUTINE HKGO SAN FRANCISCO, HKGO BRUSSELS, HKGO GENEVA INFO ROUTINE UKMIS GENEVA

HONG KONG AGREEMENT: PRESS COVERAGE: WEEKLY ROUNDUP

SUMMARY

1. THE MEDIA CONTINUED TO GIVE GOOD COVERAGE TO NEWS RELATING TO SINO-BRITISH TALKS ON THE FUTURE POLITICAL STRUCTURE AND NEWS RELATING TO THE BASIC LAW.

SINO-BRITISH TALKS ON HK

2. BRITAIN HAD REJECTED A CHINESE PROPOSAL WHICH WOULD ALLOW 20 DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN THE 1997 LEGISLATURE, THE SUNDAY POST REPORTED. CHINESE OFFICIALS PUT THE OFFER TO THE GOVERNOR, DURING HIS LAST VISIT TO PEKING, FOREIGN OFFICE SOURCES CONFIRMED. THE OFFER WAS A 15-3-2'' MODEL, UNDER WHICH THE 1997 LEGISLATURE WOULD COMPROMISE 50 PERCENT APPOINTED MEMBERS, 30 PER CENT DIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS AND 20 PER CENT MEMBERS SELECTED FROM AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE. THE MODEL ALSO INCLUDED A SEPARATE VOTING SYSTEM. CHINESE OFFICIALS TOLD BRITAIN THAT THEY EXPECTED A REPLY BEFORE THE BLDC POLITICAL GROUP MEETINGS IN GUANGZHOU. HOWEVER, THE PROPOSAL WAS REJECTED WHEN RELAYED TO LONDON. IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT BRITAIN MADE A COUNTER-OFFER WHICH MIRRORED THE 4-4-2 MODEL.

3. THE SUNDAY STANDARD SAID THAT BRITAIN HAD FAILED TO PERSUADE

CHINA TO ALLOW SIGNIFICANTLY FASTER DEMOCRATIC REFORMS IN HONG

KONG. THE PAPER SAID THAT CHANCES OF A BREAKTHROUGH DURING THE PLENARY SESSION WERE FADING. MING PAO (12.2) QUOTING SOURCES FROM CHINA, BRITAIN AND HK, SAID THAT IT WAS CERTAIN THAT THE MAINSTREAM FORMULA WOULD BE REVISED DURING THE CURRENT BLDC PLENARY SESSION. IT WOULD BE PROPOSED THAT THE BILLS AND MOTIONS PROPOSED BY THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD NOT NEED TO GO THROUGH SEPARATE VOTING WHILE PRIVATE MEMBERS' BILLS AND MOTIONS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO SO. IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE NUMBER OF DIRECTLY ELECTED SEATS IN THE FIRST SAR LEGISLATURE WOULD BE INCREASED FROM 18 TO 20.

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