TNAG-2448-FCO40-3564-Elections-in-Hong-Kong-Basic-Law-1992 — Page 44

28-OCT-1992 17:28

A.G.'S CHAMBERS

+852 977 2130 P.03

Annex A

Message from

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs (18 January 1999)

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The Governor of Hong Kong has reported to me on visit of last week to Beijing. I believe that this was valuable. in that both sides were able to increase understanding of the other's views, particularly on the question of political development. Subsequently, the Chinese Foreign Ministry transmitted further proposals to the British Embassy.

Sir Alan Donald has told your colleagues that I appreciated the positive spirit in which these were put forward and that I recognise that they represented an advance on previous proposals from the Chinese side. He also told you that I wished if possible to reach an understanding on the development of the political structure before and after 1997. I should like you to be quite clear about this.

2.

I have considered carefully your suggestion that we should restrict the number of directly elected seats in 1991 to 15, in return for which you would allow for 20 directly elected seats (one-third) in a legislature of 60 in 1997, which would thereafter increase to 40 per cent in 1999 and 53 per cent in 2003.

3.

It was brought home to me very clearly during my visit to Hong Kong that there is overwhelming pressure in Hong Kong from most sectors of the public, including significant sections of the business community, for the introduction of 20 directly elected seats in 1991. It was impressed on me that failure to do so would risk severe damage to British authority in the Territory in the period before 1997.