TNAG-2212-FCO40-3172-Hong-Kong-annual-report-for-1990-1991 — Page 155

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view to experimenting with a more open and liberal approach

to camp management.

VI CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

26.

Some important decisions were taken about Hong Kong's future political development in the course of the year. When the Joint Declaration was signed in 1984 there was no elected element of any kind in the legislature. On 16

February 1990 the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary

announced the Government's intention to introduce 18

directly elected seats in the legislature in 1991 and at

least 20 in 1995. This was a substantially greater step towards full democracy in Hong Kong than was envisaged in the 1988 White Paper. The detailed arrangements for the

1991 elections were announced on 21 March 1990. The number

of functional constituency seats will be increased (from 14

to 21; the number of officials will be reduced from 10 to 3;

and the number of appointed members will decrease from 20 to

This means that the Legislative Council to be

elected in September 1991 will for the first time in its

history have an elected majority.

17.

27. Her Majesty's Government and the Hong Kong Government

attach great importance to making a success of these

elections and are confident that the Legislative Council

which convenes in October 1991 will provide a firm foundation on which to base further development of Hong Kong's democratic system.

VII

HUMAN RIGHTS

28.

The people of Hong Kong have been assured of their basic human rights through the application of the

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

and International Covenent on Economic, Social and Cultural

ALAAEV/10

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