TNAG-2080-FCO40-2960-Hong-Kong-politically-sensitive-issues-1991 — Page 116

Issue

Objective/explanation

15

-

CONFIDENTIAL

Present status/progress

Secretary for Constitutional Affairs (Cont'd)

(c) The question of UK

acceding to the Optical Protocol to the

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and applying it to Hong Kong is being considered by HMG.

China

interest*

UK

inter

Political Development

Further development of representative government before 1997; convergence with Basic Law; political structure of SAR; formation of first SAR Government.

(a)

Last year's events in China triggered a

X

X

common desire to

quicken the pace of democracy. HKG is reviewing the decisions of the 1988 White Paper. A consensus is emerging within the community, supporting the OMELCO proposals which provides for 20 seats each for

directly, indirectly and appointed/official members, respectively, in 1991.