TNAG-2446-FCO40-3562-Political-parties-in-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 76

D of Adm

File No.

MR RICKETTS | Page

p.a.

Prùtical

Parties

Wit, b

Mr Cox.

(26

CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

Meeting with CRC: 20 July

2. Murr qe 29/7

29/7

Mr. Allen Lee and 18 other members of the CRC

The Governor began by called on the Governor on 20 July. saying that, so far as he was concerned, this was a preliminary meeting. He had been anxious to have meetings with the main political groups as soon as

He would be possible after his arrival in Hong Kong. meeting several during the week. Later on, he would wish to have more extensive meetings with some or all members of CRC. At this meeting, he would be mainly asking rather than answering questions. In response to media queries afterwards, he would confine himself to

confirming that the meeting had taken place and would not go into details of what had been said. He hoped that CRC members would take a similar line.

2.

Mr. Allen Lee said that the CRC wanted to discuss three main points: political development, the economy and social issues. On political development, CRC members knew that Hong Kong people wanted a faster pace of democracy. But they had to face the reality of the Basic Law. The CRC believed in a smooth transition and a through-train. The Secretary of State had undertook to discuss the pace of democracy with the Chinese. They hoped that this could be settled as soon as possible. Other issues which were not covered in the Basic Law, such as the Election Committee and new functional constituencies, would also need to be discussed with the

Chinese.

3.

The Governor asked how well CRC thought LegCo had worked since the 1991 elections and how its

Mr. Lee said that LegCo effectiveness might be improved. had changed a lot. There were more motion debates and scrutiny of bills took longer. Meetings were also now much more public. As there were only three official members on LegCo, the Government had to lobby for support, especially on bills and financial proposals. Mr. Stephen Cheong said that the over-politicisation of Professor Felice Lieh-mak issues was very frustrating. said that she was concerned about the interface between

In the absence of LegCo and the Administration. Ministers, Branch Secretaries spent a great deal of their time servicing LegCo.

G.F. 82

CONFIDENTIAL