TNAG-2363-FCO40-3434-Visits-by-MPs-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 85

9. Following a period if intensive negotiations between the

British and Chinese governments about the electoral

provisions to be included in the Basic Law, the final

version was adopted by the National People's Congress on

4 April 1990. It provides for 20 directly elected seats in

the Hong Kong legislature (out-of- a total of 60) in 1997,

and for further increases to 24 seats in 1999 and 30 seats

in 2003 with the possibility of full direct elections in

2007.

10.

Britain's aim throughout has been to establish a system

of democracy which would satisfy aspirations in Hong Kong

and be capable of enduring and developing beyond 1997. It

was on this basis that the British Government decided to

introduce 18 directly elected seats in 1991 and at least 20

in 1995. The Foreign Secretary announced this decision in

the House of Commons on 16 February (copy of statement

attached).

11.

The introduction of 18 directly elected seats in the legislature in 1991 will mark an important step forward in the development of democracy in Hong Kong. Our decision for 1991 is just 2 seats below the proposal put forward by

OMELCO but substantially more than the 10 seats which were

originally envisaged in the 1988 White Paper. In return for

this small concession, we have secured from the Chinese the

improvements in the draft Basic Law outlined in the Foreign

Secretary's statement.

12.

Although there were some protests from vocal minorities in Hong Kong (the Liberals, student groups, etc) the overall reaction in the territory was one of relief that

confrontation with the Chinese had been avoided. OMELCO issued a positive and balanced statement, welcoming the

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