TNAG-2448-FCO40-3564-Elections-in-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1992 — Page 35

28-OCT-1992 17:21

A.G.'S CHAMBERS

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+852 877 2130

P.02

stated that if the British side restricted the

number of

directly elected seats in 1991 to 18, the Chinese side would increase the number of directly elected seats of the first SAR legislature to 20. . "The Chinese side agreed with the five principles proposed by the British side LWL the Election Committee, but rejected the composition proposed by the British side.

They insisted that the

composition must be as in Annex I of the draft version of the Basic Law.

Seventh, a message from Mr Hurd to Mr Qian of 12

February 1990. Mr Hurd confirmed an understanding

that the British side would limit the number of

directly elected seats in Legco in 1991 to 18 if the

final version of the Basic Law provided for 20 directly elected seats in the SAR legislature in

1997, 24 in 1999, and 30 in 2003. However, he said

that he hoped the Chinese side would come to share

the British side's view that a faster pace in

introducing directly elected seats would be both manageable and desirable and that, by agreement with the Chinese side,

side, an appropriate increase might be made in 1995. (That understanding was made public

by Mr Hurd in the House of Commons on 16 February

1990. Statement attached.). There was thus no

understanding between the UK and China

on the number of directly elected seats in 1995. He

addressed three other areas

the Election

Committee, the new nationality provisions for the SAR legislature, and the voting method for the SAR legislature. On the Election Committee, Mr Hurd

said that he agreed in principle with the arrangements proposed by the Chinese side, which could be established in 1995, but that details of

agreement.

or