TNAG-2446-FCO40-3562-Political-parties-in-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 30

f

Page

1

2

5.

(a)

(b)

(c)

the

Proportional representation should be used as voting method. The system of the single transferable vote used in the Functional Constituencies could be built upon.

not favour

Although in principle they did Functional Constituencies, since they were prescribed in the Basic Law, they could not be dismantled.

Instead, they proposed that Functional Constituencies be democratised and made as fair as possible. There was, however,

a danger that if too many new Functional Constituencies were given seats in LegCo, there would be too many narrow sectoral interests in the body. The broad consensus which would reflect the community's views would be lost. It would be better to bring in representatives from the Labour and

more

Education'sectors.

Since there was no specification in the Basic Law as to how many members of the District Boards and Municipal Councils should be directly elected, they

believed that all members of these bodies should be directly Furthermore, since there was

elected.

duplication in the three-tier system they suggested that the two bodies be merged.

The Governor said that when talking of the Functional Constituencies and the DBS the Foundation had taken into account what was or was not prescribed for them in the Basic Law. Where did the Foundation stand on the number of directly elected seats in LegCo on which the Basic Law was very clear? Dr Leong said that they would not like to see too many changes in the Basic Law.

But if changes were required the British speak to the Chinese Government to Α commitment had been made by the Government that if the 1991 elections were successful, the British would raise the question of increasing the number of directly elected seats with the Chinese. They hoped that members of the Electoral Committee could be elected through direct

Government should effect them.

6.

The Governor asked their position clearly :

elections.

whether he had understood

(a) in the absence of a provision in the Basic Law, the Foundation wanted to see universal suffrage for all seats at local Government level and the merging of the DBS and Municipal Councils;

COMEDENTIAL

Page 30Page 31