A
DEMOCRATISATION IN HONG KONG
Background
1. In advance of Mr Maude's evidence session, the
Committee asked for a factual note on the pace of constitutional development between 1991 and the year 2000,
illustrating the breakdown of directly elected, indirectly
elected and otherwise elected members. The note given to
the Committee is attached.
B
C
D
Green Paper
2. The Committee recommended (but we rejected) the idea of
a Green Paper to ascertain the views of Hong Kong people on a wide range of issues relating to the electoral law, the
results of which would be incorporated into law for the
elections in 1991. The Committee have asked how we have
taken account of the views of Hong Kong people.
3. The Chinese authorities went to considerable lengths to
canvas the views of Hong Kong people on the details of the
electoral system after 1997 by conducting an elaborate
consultative exercise. In reaching our decision about the
1991 elections, we also took account of the OMELCO consensus
of July 1989, which commanded widespread support in the Hong
Kong community, including the support of 15 out of 19
District Boards. Our decision to introduce 18 directly
elected seats in 1991, and the provisions which we managed
to secure in the Basic Law for further development after 1997, were greeted with relief by most people in Hong Kong.
This was reflected in the OMELCO statement of 16 February.
On 21 March 1990, the Chief Secretary announced the detailed
arrangements for the 1991 elections. As we made clear in
our reply to the Committee's report, LegCo will have the
opportunity to debate these proposals in detail when draft legislation is introduced.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.